Roxane Wendling, Director, Guardian Ad Litem Foundation 20th Judicial Circuit, was guest speaker at last Wednesdays’ Lehigh Kiwanis Breakfast. Ms. Wendling spoke of “Guardian Ad Litem”, formerly known as “Voices for Kids”, where children come into the court system from broken or abusive homes or even homeless children, and need someone to speak for them in the court system. She explained that the 20th Judicial Circuit consists of Lee, Collier, Glades, Henry and Charlotte Counties, and the State of Florida dictates that the Judicial system must have a Guardian Ad Litem in the local courts, but the State of Florida does not fully fund this program and that is why the Guardian Ad Litem Foundation was formed. There are about 600 children in Lee Co. alone, that need the many who work as Guardian Ad Litem Volunteers and many more volunteers are needed! She stated that the volunteers go through an extensive training program, so they are screened and qualified to work in this program for the children The Guardian Ad Litem Foundation uses many methods of fundraising to meet the needs of the children in the program. Each displaced child that comes into the program has to be given a new bed, bedding and clothes to meet each child’s needs. Used bedding and clothing is not allowed for health reasons.
After the usual breakfast meeting, the East Lee H.S. Key Club Officers introduced themselves and told of the many fundraising projects they’ve been involved in to raise money for their trip to an up-coming District 19B Convention. For the club to go, they will need to earn $9.000.00 for the trip. They were selling fresh brownies and cookies to the members to boost their funds. This Key Club is one of several clubs in the local schools, sponsored by Lehigh Acres Kiwanis Club and these students are quite impressive as they speak before the breakfast attendees!
The Lehigh Acres Kiwanis Club meets each Wednesday, at 7:00 a.m., at Hope Hospice Community Room for a continental breakfast buffet and meeting. We invite any interested parties to attend a meeting as our guest and see all the good things that Lehigh Kiwanis is doing for this community.