Why I Serve: Stories of the Kiwanians of Lubao Gems

Service is more than a commitment — it is a calling. For members of the Kiwanis Club of Lubao Gems, serving children isn’t just what we do… it’s who we are.

Every outreach activity we undertake, every school kit we hand out, and every child’s smile we witness reflects the core mission that brought us together: to improve the world one child and one community at a time.

Service with Purpose: Real Stories, Real Impact

For many of us, the journey into Kiwanis began with a simple invitation — a chance to give back. That invitation changed lives.

Take Marlyn van Es, one of our charter members. She didn’t just join a club — she found a mission that fulfilled a deeper purpose. Introduced to Kiwanis by a dear friend, Marlyn discovered that serving children filled a gap in her life and gave her a direction she had been searching for. Even when the original club was de-chartered, she stayed committed and helped establish the Kiwanis Club of Lubao Gems in 2015. More than a member, she became a leader, communicator, and steward of the club’s story — reaching thousands of people with our mission.

Her journey reflects something universal about service: it shapes us as much as we shape the lives of others.

When Service Becomes Family

For most Kiwanians of Lubao Gems, our club is more than an organization — it’s a family bound by shared purpose, teamwork, and hope.

Every year we organize initiatives that reach deep into the communities around Pampanga, Tarlac, and Bataan:

• Gift of Hope has served hundreds of Aeta children with school supplies, meals, and celebration — year after year, building trust and joy with a partnership that now spans more than six years.
• School kit distributions and slippers serve children whose families struggle to afford basic educational resources.
• Feeding programs, dental missions, music lessons, and environmental projects nurture holistic well-being — not just short-term aid.

None of these projects could be sustained without people who choose to show up, week after week, year after year — people who see beyond charity and embrace consistent service, dignity, and empowerment.

Why We Serve — And Why You Should Too

We serve because we believe:

• Every child deserves dignity, opportunity, and a chance to thrive.
• Service transforms both giver and receiver.
• Communities grow stronger when their children are valued, supported, and encouraged to succeed. (Kiwanis International)

We also serve because Kiwanis makes it practical and impactful: globally, Kiwanis members stage hundreds of thousands of service projects every year, touching millions of lives with education, health support, and life-changing resources — and locally, we see the results in classrooms, playgrounds, and smiling faces. (Kiwanis International)

Stories of Transformation

When a child receives a school kit, it’s more than stationery — it’s confidence to attend school.
When a child hears their first music lesson, it’s more than sound — it’s joy and expression.
When a community receives support for feeding and health, it’s more than aid — it’s hope for a brighter future.

These aren’t abstract ideas — they are real moments we witness.
They are the reasons we rise early, plan long, and give generously.

Your Invitation to Serve

Service isn’t limited to a select few.
It’s open to anyone who wants to make a lasting difference, who wants to be part of something bigger than themselves.

If you are moved by these stories, driven by purpose, or simply want to make a difference for children… join us.

Whether you:

• Become a Kiwanis member
• Volunteer your time
• Support projects through donation or partnership

…your contribution matters.

Because every child we serve today helps build a stronger, kinder, more resilient tomorrow.

Serve with us. Empower children. Transform communities. Become a Kiwanian.