Laconia Kiwanis Concludes Another Year at Elm Street School  

The Laconia Kiwanis Club completed its final KARES visit of this school year to Elm Street Elementary School on Tuesday, February 10th, marking the conclusion of three impactful sessions with students.

Through our KARES initiative — Kids and Reading Equals Success — every participating student selected two books to take home and keep. For many children, these books become treasured additions to their personal home libraries and lasting reminders that reading opens doors to imagination and opportunity.

Kiwanis members Shawn Intorcio, John Intorcio, and Betty Ballantyne, along with Martha Clement, Jackie Bonafide, and Sue Laramie, Friends of Kiwanis, who generously volunteered their time to third-grade students throughout the program. Their dedication exemplifies Kiwanis’ commitment to literacy and youth development.

In addition to sharing stories, the Club provided snacks and beverages as students worked on Valentine cards, creating a morning that blended literacy, creativity, and fellowship.

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to Media Specialist Toni Manning and the many dedicated teachers at Elm Street Elementary for their partnership and collaboration. Their enthusiasm and support make this program possible and meaningful. And thank you to the Greater Lakes Region Children’s Fund for helping make this possible.

As we conclude this year’s visits, we are reminded that KARES is more than a reading program — it is an investment in confidence, imagination, and lifelong learning. We look forward to continuing this important work in the year ahead.

This program beautifully reflects the mission of the Laconia Kiwanis Club — improving the world one child and one community at a time. Through caring service, leadership in action, collaboration with our schools, and an unwavering commitment to helping children succeed, KARES embodies the very core values of Kiwanis. We are proud to invest in literacy, nurture imagination, and help ensure every child feels supported, encouraged, and believed in.