Steubenville Kiwanis rose sale continues 60-year tradition

STEUBENVILLE -- The Steubenville Kiwanis Club is in the middle of what has been its biggest fundraising event of the year, and members are seeking the continued support of the community.

A tradition of more than 60 years, the club's annual rose sale is underway. Roses are $20 a dozen and will be delivered by a club member on Sept. 22, according to Tom Timmons, the club's treasurer.

Deliveries will be made across the region, including Steubenville, Wintersville, Mingo Junction, Toronto, Brilliant, the Richmond area, Weirton and Follansbee.

Various colors will be available, the club's rose sale committee explained Wednesday afternoon. While buyers can indicate a particular preference, it cannot be guaranteed.

The club expects to sell and deliver more than 1,100 dozen roses.

"It's our major fundraiser, and they are all delivered locally," Timmons added.

Assisting club members with deliveries will be members of local Key Clubs. Paul Brandt, another committee member, explained that the high school students fill a different role than they have in the past.

"The Key Clubbers sold roses on the street corners downtown," Timmons added. "They sold individual roses, and that kind of got things started. People knew the rose sale was going on when they saw the kids selling them."

Money raised through the rose sale goes toward the club's efforts to support activities and organizations that benefit area young people.

That support covers a broad range, including Key Clubs at Steubenville, Catholic Central and Indian Creek high schools; scholarships for students at local schools; and an annual Christmas party for first-grade pupils at Garfield East Elementary School that includes a visit from the Oglebay Good Zoo.

The sale also provides money for the Steubenville Kiwanis Youth Soccer League, which has experienced significant growth since the club helped start the organization decades ago.

"We don't use any of that money for administrative purposes," Brandt said. "All of the money that comes in from the rose sale goes back out into projects for the community. We try to make sure they are youth-related and have some connection to young people, because that's the real theme -- our promise is to support youth."

Another project that has received funding is the playground being built next to the Sycamore Youth Center, where the club holds its weekly luncheon meetings at noon each Tuesday.

Making 1,100 or so deliveries in a single day across such a wide area presents a logistical challenge. The task falls mainly to longtime club member Larry Coleman.

While it might not be as difficult as it was several years ago, when the club was selling more than 2,000 dozen roses, it can have its moments.

Brandt said GPS apps have made the task a little easier, but it can sometimes be difficult to find the right address. Coleman said that even with GPS assistance, it can be hard to make every delivery.

"One year I was delivering in the Mingo Junction area, and it was out there," Coleman said. "The GPS didn’t work when I got there. We had made the delivery, and I’m trying to get out. It’s a narrow road, right along the creek, and I could barely get my car through, and I had two Key Clubbers with me. I backed out, we got out and we went up the hill.

"We get on this road to get out of Gould’s, and there is a big sign that says, ‘Travel at Your Own Risk,’" he added.

The three agreed that having Key Club members assist with deliveries helps club members and provides a learning experience for the young people. They said most students enjoy the opportunity.

Timmons and Brandt said they still occasionally hear from former Key Club members who have helped with deliveries in the past.

Brandt added that his daughter will call from her home in Washington state and tell him that she wished she could still deliver roses.

"I think schools have programs today where students get more credit when they do so much community service," he added. "So, I think there are some students in clubs who are there because they need to do community service. Back in the day when I was in Key Club, that wasn’t the case -- the school didn’t care whether you did community service or not."

Roses can be purchased from any Kiwanis Club member or by calling Timmons at (740) 314-9574. The deadline for placing an order is Sept. 15.

For information about the club or to learn how to become a member, contact Timmons.