What We Do

We meet bi-weekly on Thursday evenings to discuss donations, upcoming club events and host guest speakers. It is at these meetings that the club makes sponsored donations to local youth organizations, community sports teams, scholarship recipients, and other charities associated with supporting the needs of the youth in our community. These meetings also provide a networking opportunity for club members.

Outside of bi-weekly meetings and distributing donations, we come together during our scheduled events to work, support, and have a good time while engaging with our incredible Kirkwood community.

During the year we host and support a variety of events and projects in the Kirkwood area that will impact the area youth in a positive way and to raise money to donate to local youth and youth related organizations.

Contributions to the following organizations, and others, are budgeted and board-approved donations that require club-member submitted donations requests. Funds distributed are provided from the proceeds received by the club from its fundraising efforts throughout the year.

Christmas Tree Lot

The annual Christmas tree lot is our biggest project and fundraiser throughout the year.

Typically, we order more than 650 trees in various heights and types. We utilize every member and volunteer to build the lot, unload the trees, and run the lot while we sell.

We start selling trees on Thanksgiving weekend, and continue sales every day of the week until we sell out. Our tree lot is located at the Kirkwood North Middle School.

Bags Tournament

In 2020, we hosted our first bags tournament at Kirkwood Park and immediately knew it would be an annual event.

We welcome all teams of 2 and provide food, drinks, music, and some intense, but fun, competition. We offer cash prizes for the top five teams. All profits go to local area youth programs.
2023 Event Details

Date - Friday, September 8th @ 5:30 PM
Location - Kirkwood Park, Field 5 by the water tower
Team Fee - $80 for two players
Corporate Sponsorships - $200 (includes two person team fee and a sign with your company logo)

To sign up your team, or to submit your company name as a sponsor for the event, please contact Ben Finan at bfinan@craneagency.com

First Responders Banquet

Every year, we have the honor of hosting our First Responders Banquet for all Kirkwood and Glendale area first responders. This is our way of saying thank you to those who constantly work to keep us safe.

During this event, we BBQ and serve a full spread of burgers, chicken, ribs, and delicious sides for over 100 first responders.

Community Events & Projects We Support

The Kirkwood Greentree Festival

For years, we have supported this Kirkwood tradition. Typically, we work at the beer tent and serve the coldest beer in Kirkwood. We love this event because we get to give back to Kirkwood and meet incredible folks that call this city their home. Swing by to meet us and grab a cold beverage.

The Greentree Festival enhances community spirit and showcases the volunteer involvement of residents and their nonprofit organizations. The Festival provides food, entertainment, crafts, and educational activities for all ages and encourages Kirkwood-area residents to congregate, interact, and celebrate.

Kirkwood's Route 66 "Cars and Guitars" Festival

We recently got involved with this event as a food vendor offering hot dogs, chips, sodas, and water. We enjoy supporting and working this event as it brings the Kirkwood community, and others, together to celebrate amazing cars, food, and fantastic music on two stages! Be sure to stop by and say, "Hello."

The event "Cars and Guitars" speaks to the rich transportation and music history of the region. Live music and vintage vehicles anchor this outdoor event.

Kirkwood Optimist Pavilion in McEntee Memorial Park

In 1995, the Kirkwood Optimist Club donated a gazebo pavilion in McEntee Memorial Park. This has served as a gathering place for both youth and adults in our community.

As you would expect, in 2023, the gazebo was in need of a little repair and painting and the club turned out to bring the beauty back to this structure in hopes that the area youth will be able to enjoy it for years to come.

The gazebo was rededicated on October 14, 2023.