For the past 22 years the Kiwanis have sponsored an annual trout derby at Dixon Lake. As part of the derby, they have provided two Kiddy Ponds for Children where seven and under can fish for first time. The Kiwanis also provide two Kiddy ponds at the annual City of Escondido Trout Derby. Members of the Escondido Senior Anglers assist the Kiwanis each year at both these events by providing the equipment, expertise and bait for the children to fish. We have all witnessed firsthand the joy on a small child's face when you help them to catch their first fish. These are the kind of early life experiences that instill a lifelong love of fishing and advocacy for the sport.

I would like to commend the officers and members of the Hidden Valley Kiwanis for fully supporting the City of Escondido's efforts at bringing young people into the sport of fishing. This group of volunteers has been instrumental in seeing that boys and girls are given the opportunity to learn about fishing firsthand at Dixon Lake in Escondido. Twice each year, the Club spends hours of time setting up the "Kiddy Pond" at Dixon Lake as part of the City's annual Trout Derby in the fall, and the Kiwanis Trout Derby in the spring. Club volunteers work with Lakes staff to ensure that the ponds are up and ready to go each day of the Derbies and are stocked with enough small trout that every boy and girl that wants to catch a fish, does. The Club uses its own funds to purchase hundreds of pounds of trout for each event, and along with members of the Senior Anglers of Escondido, provides expert anglers at the ponds to help each child catch what could be his or her first fish! It's a great undertaking The Hidden Valley Kiwanis has been a part of these derbies for many years, and their support and efforts are such a major element of these events that we have parents inquiring months in advance about the "Kiddy Ponds." The Kiwanis participation is a key factor in the continued success of these events, and the strong growth of freshwater fishing in Escondido. A derby without the Kiwanis would be like a lake without fish!

Escondido Kiwanis helped serve or cook regular daily breakfasts at North County Interfaith. However, when the pandemic hit, these breakfasts had to stop since the serving and eating arrangements would not meet social distancing requirements and many of the Interfaith volunteers were over 65.  As a result, 150 people per day were not fed a hot breakfast.   Brainstorming with Kiwanis and Interfaith staff led to an idea to prepare, cook and serve wrapped, hot breakfast burritos at least on Fridays to go along with the sack lunches given out. Kiwanis Cooks and members from Hidden Valley Kiwanis now arrive at Interfaith at 5:00 am each Friday morning to prepare approximately 144 burritos each week. These are given out with other goodies like milk, granola bars or fruit in the breakfast bag.   Prepared by the Kiwanis Club members with the assistance of KEY Club (high school) volunteers.   Homeless men and women come to the doorway at Interfaith one by one on Friday mornings....get a sack lunch...get a cup of coffee...and get a breakfast burrito sack. It's at least one day a week where they get a hot breakfast!!