Projects

Yearly Donations

• Childhood Cancer Campaign
• Give-a-Kid-a-Book Campaign
• St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital
• Harris Karate Scholarship
• Boy Scout Troop 1173
• Optimist International Foundation

Projects

• Books for Kids
• Easter Candy Hunt
• Little Free Libraries
• Toys for Needy Children
• Trick or Treat Trail
• Bellevue Dance Recital

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Books for Kids

Books for Kids is our newest initiative that we incorporate into many of our already established projects.  We want to promote literacy and reading to the families in our communities.  To achieve this, we provide free books at most of the events we participate in.  We have given out over 2,250 books in just nine months time.  That’s a lot of books in young readers’ hands!

Easter Candy Hunt

For 14 years running we’ve held an Easter Candy Hunt on the Saturday before Easter. This event takes places at Preble Park at 11:00am. We hide over 500 eggs and distribute over 1,000 pounds of wrapped candy. This event is unique as it is a joint effort between our club and the Preble Optimist Club of Green Bay. Both clubs are proud to provide a completely free event for children in our combined areas.

 

Little Free Libraries

These hand-built boxes are placed in areas around Bellevue and help contribute to a sense of community here in Northeast Wisconsin.  Our Optimist Club is happy to produce and support these little free libraries, bringing a love of literacy to both children and adults.  You can find out more about these free little libraries.  If you’d like one in your neighborhood, feel free to contact us!

 

Toys for Needy Children

For over 25 years the Bellevue East Town Optimist has been blessed to give and wrap donated toys to those children in need over the holiday season. The club receives names of children and families from clergy, organizations, and schools. The club then hosts a wrapping event a few weeks before Christmas. With Christmas music in the background, Santa hats on our heads, and joy in our hearts, members select and wrap the toys. The gifts are then handed back to the organizations for distribution.

 

Trick or Treat Trail

Held in October this event is for youth age 2-10. Along with other members of the Bellevue Community, we provide a kid-friendly trick or treating experience through Josten Park. Area businesses sponsor booths which hand out treats to the children. There is usually a pumpkin patch and balloon animals. Afterwards kids can warm up with a cup of hot chocolate and a cookie.

 

Bellevue Dance Recital

At this event the Village of Bellevue presents its winter programs of Tap and Ballet classes. These classes range from 3 year olds to adults. As members, we help the village put on this event by organizing costume changes, line-ups, and activities while each group waits to perform onstage. This way parents, who are usually the helpers, are free to watch and enjoy the show.