Member Spotlight – McPherson Optimist Club

Member Spotlight – McPherson Optimist Club

Chamber Connection attendees were welcomed to the Community Building October 24th with festive Halloween balloons and an inflatable tunnel set up for that evening’s annual Halloween Carnival hosted by the McPherson Optimist Club. The carnival has been a longstanding tradition that provides a safe and fun place to enjoy games, win prizes, and show off costumes.

The Halloween Carnival is just one of the many initiatives the McPherson Optimist Club sponsors to support the community’s youth. Their mission is “By providing hope and positive vision, Optimists bring out the best in youth, our communities and ourselves.” These words are seen in the actions of the Optimist members and volunteers who make the following causes and more happen each year.

Stars and Stripes – For $35 per year, Optimists will put up and take down an American flag at your home five times per year (Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day). All proceeds stay in McPherson to help local youth through Optimist programs.

Feed the Kids – The McPherson Optimist Club serves over 1400 hot dogs, chips and cookies to the kids from the grade schools in the city in the spring, coinciding with their Field Days. This tradition of serving the youth in the community has been going strong since 2012.

GIFT Program – The GIFT (Gifts Intended For Teens) Program was started in 1995 to provide gifts at Christmas time for kids in the community who had aged out of the Toys for Tots program. Families in need are able to apply for assistance for their teen’s gifts. McPherson Optimist Club members do the shopping and wrap the gifts, and parents pick the gifts up prior to Christmas.

Kicks for Kids – When giving out gifts with the GIFT Program, the Optimists now include a $50 voucher to Shoe Sensation good during a Kicks for Kids event at the store.

Easter Egg Hunt – Kids ages 0-12 are invited to a free community-wide Easter Egg Hunt the Saturday before Easter.

Mid America Classic – This high school girls basketball tournament hosted by the McPherson Optimist Club and McPherson High School is a longtime fundraiser with half of the money raised going to the Optimist Club and half going to the school’s athletics department.

The McPherson Optimist Club, which has been around for 52 years, continues to evolve and find new ways to serve the youth of the community. This includes fun new ways of fundraising to support their programs as well. Save the date for the second annual Dueling Pianos February 22nd, 2025, at 5 p.m. at the McPherson Community Building. Watch the McPherson Optimist Club’s Facebook page for details.

Are you interested in becoming part of this wonderful organization? Join them for a luncheon meeting on the third Tuesday each month at Knackies Meats and Sweets at 11:30 a.m. Everyone is on their own to order lunch, and a speaker starts at noon. You can also sign up to become a member or volunteer on the McPherson Optimist Club website.

Be sure to check out photos from the Chamber Connection hosted by the McPherson Optimist Club.