Fundraiser blooms in community
By DIANE GASPER-O'BRIEN
Community service was an important part of Kara Moore's life while growing up in south-central Kansas.
Moore had been a member of the Key Club -- the high school version of Kiwanis International, a global organization of volunteers -- as a student at Chaparral High School in Anthony, near the Oklahoma border.
So the Hays Kiwanis Club was a natural fit for Moore when a current member asked her to attend a meeting about two and a half years ago.
Moore, operations and marketing specialist at Golden Belt Bank in Hays, dragged along to the meeting fellow employee Chris Wente, the bank's vice president.
Now, they are active members of the club, and both admit they enjoy the service opportunities.
Tuesday, they joined 30-some fellow Kiwanians in delivering poinsettias to local businesses and residents for the club's annual fundraiser.
It's just one of many projects throughout the year for the Kiwanians. All proceeds go back to the community.
"They're all fun," Wente said of the various activities offered by the local civic club, "because it's giving back to the community."
Seeing people's faces when they receive their poinsettias for the Christmas season is an added bonus.
"This is a lot of fun," Moore said as she loaded plants into the back of Wente's pickup truck. "I've always liked Kiwanis."
"I didn't know that much about Kiwanis, until I went to a meeting," said Wente, a Hays native who was the beneficiary of the club's work on local parks as a youngster.
"They do so much for the parks, for the community," he added.
The long-time project starts with Kiwanis members getting orders several weeks leading up to December.
They then order the plants, which come in several different colors, from Stutzman Greenhouse in Hutchinson.
A truck delivered 460 plants to Vitztum Commercial Flooring on Old U.S. Highway 40 early Tuesday.
Committee members Shelby Doty, Joleen Fisher and Andy Rupp mapped out routes for the volunteers, which included both day and night shifts.
One Hays resident pulled into her driveway just in time to receive her plant, rather than a calling card.
Mary Hickman has been ordering a poinsettia for the past seven to 10 years because "they last so long and are so beautiful," she said.
Hickman usually goes with the traditional bright red plant, but she decided to be different this year and checked "Monet" when placing her order.
She was all smiles as she tore away the plastic protective wrap from her peach-colored plant with cream tips.
"But (Monet) sounded so pretty," said Hickman, obviously pleased with the result.
"And," she said with a laugh, waving a sheet of paper, "it comes with instructions."
* * *
Following are tips to keep the poinsettias attractive for a long time:
* Place the plant in a sunny window or the brightest area of the room, making sure to not let it touch cold windowpanes. Day temperature should be 65 to 75 degrees, with night temperature between 60 and 65 degrees. Temperatures above 75 degrees will shorten bloom life. Below 60 could cause root rot.
* Move plants away from windows at night or draw drapes to avoid damage from the cold.
* Avoid overwatering because poinsettas do not like "wet feet." However, if it becomes too dry, it will wilt and drop leaves. To maintain proper moisture, examine the potting soil daily, sticking a finger about an inch deep into the soil. If it is too dry, the plant needs water.
* Water plants with lukewarm water until some water runs out of the drainage hole, then discard the drainage water.