What’s a Halloween parade without a gigantic pumpkin?
Leesburg has had an annual Halloween parade since 1957, and since at least 1964 the Leesburg Kiwanis club has single-handedly organized and sponsored it. 2020 will be its 64th anniversary.
Part of our Kiwanis family.
Come out on Saturday, October 31, in costume if you like, to watch a modified parade. Instead of the traditional evening parade down King Street this year’s parade is coming to you on the streets of Leesburg neighborhoods. There will be two parades, one in the morning and another in the afternoon so Kiwanis can take the parade come to your homes.
Planning is underway so watch this space beginning in September 2021 for additional details as they become available.
This Hispanic group’s Dia de los Muertos-themed float won Best Float in 2018.
Excerpt from the GoFundMe Campaign for Parker: " Parker was born in 2017, and has been fighting ever since. Every bit of progress that he makes to overcome complex medical challenges is hard earned and often costly. Unfortunately, our family's resources have been profoundly impacted due to medical expenses. Parker will be four years old in April. Continued early intervention is critical to Parker's development. We are asking for your support to meet Parker's medical and therapy needs.
Parker had a difficult birth, fell off the growth charts by two months of age, and was hospitalized at three months old with failure to thrive and had a nasogastric feeding tube placed. We began a diagnostic journey that has taken us to numerous children's hospitals and even the National Institutes of Health, but still hasn't yielded a definitive diagnosis for the underlying cause of Parker's medical conditions. Parker isn't yet mobile, and he is still non-verbal. His nasogastric tube was eventually replaced by a permanent G-tube when he was one year old. Parker has both vision and hearing impairments, as well as scoliosis and epilepsy. He has worked so hard to learn to sit without support, he thrives in music therapy, and he loves swinging on his therapy swing. Despite his hardships, Parker nearly always has a beautiful smile to share, and his giggles let us know that he is a happy child.
I took three years off of work to care for Parker when his complex medical issues surfaced. During that time, in 2019, I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. Thankfully, family and friends rallied to provide support so that I could focus attention on my own health. I returned to work last year, and continue to manage my very costly condition. It is heartbreaking having to make choices between my medical care and Parker's care, between my life and Parker's. Many of Parker's medical needs are not covered by insurance. These expenses include some of his prescribed medications; out of network or non-covered medical care and therapies to help him make progress towards becoming mobile, communicating, and eating; adaptive equipment; and environmental modifications to our home. These are only some of the many expenses that we face to meet Parker's care needs.
In addition to GoFundMe, we are partnering with the local Kiwanis club to accept tax-deductible checks. 100% of donations go to pay Parker's medical expenses. Please send your check to the Leesburg Virginia Kiwanis Foundation, Attn: Parker Bradshaw Fundraiser, P.O. Box 445, Leesburg, VA 20176. Please include your name and address so this 501(c)(3) foundation may acknowledge your gift.
It is never easy to ask for help, and we are thankful for any support for Parker on his continued path to progress. It means the world to us to give Parker what he needs while our family is facing extraordinary challenges. Thank you from our family, Kelly, Brent, Nora, and most of all, Parker" ... See MoreSee Less
Honoring Ampersand Pantry Project on its First Anniversary
Friday, April 16, our club presented flowers to free lunch program coordinator Gaby Lamas in recognition of her tireless efforts over the past year (read 365 days continuously, really). 93,000+ lunches, 550,000+ diapers, 17,500+ flowers, and 14,000+ pounds of pet food, plus books, fresh produce, toys, treats and more!
Our club started distributing candy on special occasions halfway through the year--Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day, Easter. That's tens of thousands of pieces to the upwards of 250 people/day the pantry feeds. We also handed out books during National Read Across America week.
It's been a sweet relationship serving our community one child and one person at a time! ... See MoreSee Less
Some of the best service projects and fundraisers unite the community in outdoor exercise. From kite-flying festivals to 5K races, check out these ideas that can be adapted to social distancing guidelines: bit.ly/3tKBjtc#KidsNeedKiwanis... See MoreSee Less
Leesburg Halloween Parade
Check out our post Halloween recap page for highlights of our 2020 club Halloween activities.
Halloween and Kiwanis Go Together in Leesburg
Leesburg has had an annual Halloween parade since 1957, and since at least 1964 the Leesburg Kiwanis club has single-handedly organized and sponsored it. 2020 will be its 64th anniversary.
Come out on Saturday, October 31, in costume if you like, to watch a modified parade. Instead of the traditional evening parade down King Street this year’s parade is coming to you on the streets of Leesburg neighborhoods. There will be two parades, one in the morning and another in the afternoon so Kiwanis can take the parade come to your homes.
Planning is underway so watch this space beginning in September 2021 for additional details as they become available.
Search Site
A local Leesburg family is in need of assistance. Please consider donating to help Parker and his family cover his extensive medical needs. www.gofundme.com/f/parkers-path-to-progress
#parkerspathtoprogress
Excerpt from the GoFundMe Campaign for Parker:
" Parker was born in 2017, and has been fighting ever since. Every bit of progress that he makes to overcome complex medical challenges is hard earned and often costly. Unfortunately, our family's resources have been profoundly impacted due to medical expenses. Parker will be four years old in April. Continued early intervention is critical to Parker's development. We are asking for your support to meet Parker's medical and therapy needs.
Parker had a difficult birth, fell off the growth charts by two months of age, and was hospitalized at three months old with failure to thrive and had a nasogastric feeding tube placed. We began a diagnostic journey that has taken us to numerous children's hospitals and even the National Institutes of Health, but still hasn't yielded a definitive diagnosis for the underlying cause of Parker's medical conditions. Parker isn't yet mobile, and he is still non-verbal. His nasogastric tube was eventually replaced by a permanent G-tube when he was one year old. Parker has both vision and hearing impairments, as well as scoliosis and epilepsy. He has worked so hard to learn to sit without support, he thrives in music therapy, and he loves swinging on his therapy swing. Despite his hardships, Parker nearly always has a beautiful smile to share, and his giggles let us know that he is a happy child.
I took three years off of work to care for Parker when his complex medical issues surfaced. During that time, in 2019, I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. Thankfully, family and friends rallied to provide support so that I could focus attention on my own health. I returned to work last year, and continue to manage my very costly condition. It is heartbreaking having to make choices between my medical care and Parker's care, between my life and Parker's. Many of Parker's medical needs are not covered by insurance. These expenses include some of his prescribed medications; out of network or non-covered medical care and therapies to help him make progress towards becoming mobile, communicating, and eating; adaptive equipment; and environmental modifications to our home. These are only some of the many expenses that we face to meet Parker's care needs.
In addition to GoFundMe, we are partnering with the local Kiwanis club to accept tax-deductible checks. 100% of donations go to pay Parker's medical expenses. Please send your check to the Leesburg Virginia Kiwanis Foundation, Attn: Parker Bradshaw Fundraiser, P.O. Box 445, Leesburg, VA 20176. Please include your name and address so this 501(c)(3) foundation may acknowledge your gift.
It is never easy to ask for help, and we are thankful for any support for Parker on his continued path to progress. It means the world to us to give Parker what he needs while our family is facing extraordinary challenges. Thank you from our family, Kelly, Brent, Nora, and most of all, Parker" ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Honoring Ampersand Pantry Project on its First Anniversary
Friday, April 16, our club presented flowers to free lunch program coordinator Gaby Lamas in recognition of her tireless efforts over the past year (read 365 days continuously, really). 93,000+ lunches, 550,000+ diapers, 17,500+ flowers, and 14,000+ pounds of pet food, plus books, fresh produce, toys, treats and more!
Our club started distributing candy on special occasions halfway through the year--Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day, Easter. That's tens of thousands of pieces to the upwards of 250 people/day the pantry feeds. We also handed out books during National Read Across America week.
It's been a sweet relationship serving our community one child and one person at a time! ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Happy members are key to attracting more members. Here are 5 ways to improve the member experience right now: bit.ly/3fhpjtU ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Interesting, thanks ❤.
Julisa Jones Jillian Jones Endrah Richardson Gumbs Deborah van den Berg-Alexander
Some of the best service projects and fundraisers unite the community in outdoor exercise. From kite-flying festivals to 5K races, check out these ideas that can be adapted to social distancing guidelines: bit.ly/3tKBjtc #KidsNeedKiwanis ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook