Now in its sixteenth year, the Kiwanis Club of Tempe is gearing up for their annual Beans 'n' Rice Program. Each year, the Tempe Kiwanis donate thousands of pounds of beans and rice to Tempe elementary schools between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The size of the program has been increasing each year since 1996. In response to additional economic hardships to families, the goal this year is to expand the program to Tempe high schools with the additional support from the corporate community.

The Beans 'n' Rice program began after learning that many donated holiday turkeys are not accepted because underprivileged recipients do not have ovens available to cook turkeys. Each year, school nurses and counselors identify the students in the most need of assistance and all administrative costs are paid by the volunteers.

The Kiwanis Club of Tempe is again supported this year by the Tempe Impact Education Foundation. The partnership is currently aligning additional corporate donors for this vital and rewarding holiday program. If your company would like to participate, please contact the Kiwanis Beans 'n' Rice Program Chair, Bill Loughrige, at (480) 223-8034.

Beans 'n' Rice is distributed in early December.

A number of groups will be appearing at this year's breakfast.  Among those appearing are: Fees Middle School - Jazz Band; Frank School - Choir; Fees Middle School - Choir;  Hudson School - Choir; and Gililland Middle School - Choir.  Tickets are still available for the annual Kiwanis Tempe - Sunrise Club pancake breakfast. Club members will begin flippin pancakes Saturday, December 3rd at 7 AM. Tickets are $3 each and proceeds are used for the annual Beans n Rice Program. Each year, the Kiwanis Tempe - Sunrise Club donates thousands of pounds of beans and rice to Tempe elementary schools between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The size of the program has been increasing each year since 1996. In response to additional economic hardships to families, the goal this year is to expand the program to Tempe high schools with the additional support from the corporate community. $3 tickets can be purchased at Tempe Schools Credit Union, 2800 S. M ill, Tempe, or at WJL Investigations, Inc., 2727 W Baseline Rd Suite 18 Tempe, AZ 85283 SE Corner of 48th Street & Baseline Rd or from any Tempe Schools Key Club member. The pancake fest is at McKemy Middle School Cafeteria at 2250 S. College Avenue. Tickets are also available December 3rd at the door.

Contact Robert Reymont at (480) 820-2439