Service is a blessed opportunity. But to some people, being able to help kids makes service even more special.

That's what the Kiwanis Club of the Lititz Area stands for; that's what it's really all about.

The Kiwanis Club of the Lititz Area seeks to serve the local community and its surrounding areas through directly and indirectly supporting the development of children. But in another way, it's a group of maturing citizens who have always served, passing on their legacy to the next generation.

"We're looking to help the children of the world, one community at a time," said Charles Stickler, the Kiwanis Club of the Lititz Area's vice president. "Our focus is to help children any way we can, and literacy is a big piece of that. We're an organization of people who look to help the children of the community. Our people work together well; they're harmonious and we're focused on what we do."

The Kiwanis Club of the Lititz Area gives away thousands of books each year, and the organization raises funds for local organizations like the Schreiber Center for Pediatric Development and the Lancaster Cleft Palate Clinic. The club also sponsors local scholastic service groups: Key Club, Builders Club, Circle K and Aktion Club.

To fund its altruistic efforts, Lititz's Kiwanis Club conducts four major fundraisers each year - a wine, cheese and chocolate tasting party in February; the Lititz Pretzel Fest in May; a kids' day in the park in May; and the Lititz Chocolate Walk in October.

"God's been good to me," said Stickler. "The best way to give back is to give back to God's people. Our kids are our future. I like meeting people. I like helping people. I think for most of our members, they share that same common theme."

Each year, members of Kiwanis International perform an average of 150,000 service projects and raise a total of $100 million worldwide. Locally, Kiwanis International also sponsors clubs in Lancaster, New Holland, Mount Joy, Elizabethtown, Lebanon and Reading.

"We're teachers, engineers and truck drivers," said Stickler. "We're a group of citizens who want to be able to help our community. Age-wise, we're a mixed group. It's just an interesting group of nice people who are dedicated."

The Kiwanis Club of the Lititz Area was formed from the remnants of the now-disbanded Kiwanis Club of North Lancaster, whose origins can be traced to the mid-1950s. Formally established on Sept. 14, 1994, the current Kiwanis Club in Lititz initially featured a roster of 40 members, a number that has dwindled to 22 recently.

"Over the years, people have moved away or passed away," said Stickler. "Our club is getting older. ... To me, the key to our future is getting more young people involved."

For additional information on the Kiwanis Club of the Lititz Area, go to http://www.lititzkiwanis.com.