The Noon and Sunset Kiwanis clubs of Fountain Hills participated in a joint service project Saturday, April 5.

Kiwanis International declared that date as the annual “Kiwanis One Day,” when Kiwanis clubs around the globe are encouraged to engage in community service.

This marked the third straight year that the clubs participated in Kiwanis One Day.

Members from both clubs traveled to the Scottsdale Training and Rehabilitation Services (STARS) facility near Frank Lloyd Wright and Via Linda for Kiwanis One Day.

There, they joined members of the Aktion Club of STARS, a club for special needs adults sponsored by Noon Kiwanis, for some hands-on work.

An estimated two dozen people were on hand at STARS to plant new vegetation and paint a large classroom at the facility.

Three separate planter beds were utilized for three different themes of plants – vegetables/herbs, succulents/cacti and flowers.

In addition, four large planters were spruced up with annuals and other flowering plants.

Noon Kiwanis donated the materials, while Sunset Kiwanis kept everyone happy and hydrated with snacks, fruit and beverages.

The motto of Kiwanis International is “serving the children of the world.”

“It was a pleasure to work side-by-side with the Sunset Club and Aktion Club,” said Mike Scharnow, president of the Noon Club.

“Everyone had a great time, worked hard, and it demonstrated to the Aktion Club and to the community at-large what community service is all about.”

Mike Fleming, current president of the Sunset club, said it was a “split” day for the club, as some members traveled to Sunshine Acres in Mesa to assist its high school Key Club with a barbecue at the facility.

Others went to STARS and worked with Noon members for One Day.

“From what I heard, everyone enjoyed the joint project and helping out STARS,” Fleming said.

“This is what Kiwanis does.”

Founded in 1915, Kiwanis International is a global organization of clubs and members dedicated to serving the children of the world.

Kiwanis and its family of clubs, including Circle K International for university students, Key Club for students age 14-18, Builders Club for students age 11-14, Kiwanis Kids for students age 6-12 and Aktion Club for adults living with disabilities, dedicate annually more than 18 million service hours to strengthen communities and serve children.

The Kiwanis International family comprises nearly 600,000 adult and youth members in 80 countries and geographic areas.

The Noon club’s website is www.fhkiwanis.org. The Sunset club’s website is www.sunsetkiwanis.org.