By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Ben Bowen is all about helping people. As a maintenance apprentice at Wood Lane, he takes pride in doing yard work and making repairs to residential homes.
“I like working with my hands,” Bowen said, describing his ability to build a radio from scratch. “I’m a jack of all trades.”
Bowen is one of the members of Wood Lane’s AKtion Club, which is a Kiwanis program for people with disabilities. The club puts people like Bowen on the giving end of services – with members volunteering with community projects, doing fundraising projects, then donating all the proceeds to community groups in need.
The coronavirus has put a crimp in the volunteer work that AKtion members can do. Earlier this month, they teamed up at a home in Bowling Green to do some yard work for senior citizens.
“We can easily stay 6 feet apart, we’re outside, we wear masks,” said Wood Lane Superintendent Brent Baer, who was working alongside Bowen.
The pair were digging out bushes and clearing an area of the backyard for the woman who wanted to plant daffodils where she could enjoy the flowers in the spring.
“It’s a cool kind of community service,” Baer said.
“Ben’s an amazing worker,” Baer said, explaining that in the summertime Ben often has to be reminded to slow down and drink water. “He’s just a good man.”
And he knows a few magic tricks, that he was willing to share during a brief break in the yard work.
Rhonda Kendall, executive administrative assistant at Wood Lane, coordinates the AKtion Club’s work projects.
“They all work together and their mission is the same. They are so passionate about helping others in the community,” she said.
The 17 active members of the club do fundraisers, then hold meetings to decide which community causes to donate to, Kendall said.
The members never do fundraisers for their own group, Baer said.
“They never keep any money for themselves,” he said.
Most people don’t realize that the AKtion Club members are on the giving end – not the receiving end of community projects, Kendall said.
“These are individuals who receive services, who are giving to others who receive services,” she said.
Kendall said working with the club is the favorite part of her job.
“They are my family. They gave me the name ‘Mama Kendall’ and I’m going with it.”
“Each member has a specific personal goal they want to achieve for themselves,” she said. “They are all about helping the community.”
Over the past year, the AKtion Club donated $200 to the toy drive at Wood County Children’s Services, $500 to the Wood Lane School book drive, $800 to a food bank, $400 to holiday gift giving, and $1,000 to Project Connect which will be carried over to next year due to the coronavirus.
The group also helps by volunteering on community service projects like helping with meals at the senior center, working with Habitat for Humanity, volunteering at the BG Kiwanis pancake breakfasts, and doing yard work for local residents.
