Daniel Sweat
Features Editor
Gather ‘round, kids, it’s story time. A long time ago (like, three years ago), Circle K was a fairly large, student-run club that placed an emphasis on service, fellowship and philanthropy. At its peak, the club comprised over 70 members led by a dedicated president. Throughout the year, Circle K hosted events like Battle of the Bands that raised money for national charities like the Ronald McDonald House for Children. Moreover, students really enjoyed the events that Circle K hosted. But when that dedicated president graduated, leadership passed onto someone less enthusiastic, so the club’s membership and presence on the campus dwindled. That’s why, if you’re like me, you probably haven’t heard much about Circle K. But don’t worry, that’s all about to change.
Now, thanks to Jake Eshelman ’17 and his merry band of volunteers, Circle K is back! With the help of the Kiwanis International club in Wooster, Eshelman has been trying to restore Circle K to its former glory.
Because Circle K is affiliated with Kiwanis International, students who get involved with the club are connecting themselves with a community of over one million volunteers worldwide. Kiwanis International, a global volunteer organization, has chapters in all 50 states and in over 80 countries. Circle K works directly with the Kiwanis chapter in Wooster in order to more comprehensively serve the community. When asked about the members of that chapter, Eshelman said, “the Kiwani members are some of the most genuinely kind and helpful people I have ever met.” To quote Kiwanis International itself, “service is at the heart of every Kiwanis club, no matter where in the world it’s located.”
This year, Circle K is trying to rebuild a core group of students willing to volunteer through weekly events, such as trips to the humane society, the nursing home and other similar events. Eventually, once this core group has been solidified, Circle K hopes to organize larger events open to anyone and everyone who can volunteer. These larger events would include things like a trail cleanup, campus-wide pop tab collections and the aforementioned Battle of the Bands. As most of the leaders for Circle K will be graduating this spring, they are also looking for new, enthusiastic members who want to continue the tradition of service Circle K has already established.
So if you’re interested in joining Circle K, contact Eshelman at JEshelman17@wooster.edu. Also, look out for announcements for service events as the year goes on. It’s a great group to join if you’re passionate about service and want to get involved in the Wooster community.