Imagine a long car ride home from Ocean City, Maryland. Now, imagine three children in the backseat of said car whining about the terrible hunger ripping at their stomachs. Then, out of the corner of your eye, you see a humble roadside stand with a barbecue pit that is emitting the wonderful scent of combined seasonings. This is your chance to break free from the past 45 minutes of torture. This is also the experience of many families that arrive at the Kiwanis Club.
When my parents first pulled up to the Kiwanis Club, I was shocked that they would drag me to such a dump. While there was a heavenly smell in the air, I was not pleased in the slightest sense of the word. My two younger brothers had spent the past 45 minutes whining, and my parents were finally promising us a delicious dinner. Upon seeing a small hut with a barbecue pit inside and a large barn with picnic tables and a meal assembly line, I was flat out horrified. This is not to imply that the place was not clean; it was. I was merely confused in by 14 year old mind. We paid a small fee to the volunteer workers who run the Kiwanis Club and went down the line, accumulating chicken, rolls, pickles and chips. At this point in time, my nose was engulfed with the mixed scent of seasoning on cooked chicken breasts. The chicken was savory and juicy with a crispy skin and not at all what I was expecting. Not only was it all these things, but it has been every time that I have returned. They are very consistent with the quality of their chicken. Kiwanis was even kind enough to share their secret recipe with my family, but we failed to recreate it to such a degree. I believe that the delectable taste can only be acquired by cooking the chicken over a large barbecue pit with the charitable time spared by so many volunteers such as they provide to make it. It’s difficult not to feel refreshed while sitting in the open air barn eating superb chicken and drinking a cool soda straight out of a can. It is a humble dining experience, but it’s one I wouldn’t trade for any other.

Not only does Kiwanis offer a wonderful experience, but they also donate all their money to projects that help needy children all over the world. They have donated over six million hours of service and almost $107 million; they even works alongside with UNICEF. Their hope is to be “a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world, one child and one community at a time.”