The old adage, “You are who you surround yourself with,” still rings true in 2024. Members of the Kiwanis Club of the Islips-Bay Shore can rest assured, they are pretty great.

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world, one child and one community at a time. Members of the not-for-profit Kiwanis Club of the Islips-Bay Shore have been surrounded by fellow volunteers who are committed to serving the Islip, East Islip, West Islip, Islip Terrace, Central Islip and Bay Shore communities since 1987.

The club is dedicated to aiding children, and donated six scholarships for all the Islip high schools this year, including Central Islip, Islip, East Islip, Brentwood, West Islip and Bay Shore. Each student got a $750 scholarship. Through their annual Santa Brunch, in which all attendees are asked to donate an unwrapped toy, club members are able to brighten the holiday season for local children.

“We also do individual outreach to families in need,” shared president of the Kiwanis Club of the Islips-Bay Shore, Sandy Flandina. “We support Cooking for Long Island Veterans, which is a veterans’ group we helped set up. It serves elderly veterans who are homebound with meals. One of our Kiwanis members is the director of that. We also do outreach with Good Samaritan University Hospital.”

If you want to help contribute to the nonprofit, join the Kiwanis Club of the Islips-Bay Shore at the anticipated 37th anniversary cocktail party. The party will be held at Captain Bill’s in Bay Shore, Friday, June 28, from 7 to 10 p.m.

The night will be complete with a carving station, pasta station, passed appetizers, an open bar, specialty desserts, raffles, 50/50, door prizes, and music. The entertainment does not end there; Elvis, Frankie Valli, and Frank Sinatra professional impersonators will also be in attendance. Additionally, a wide variety of desserts have been donated by Campbell’s Bakery in Brentwood and Manhattan Sweets in Islip.

The honoree of the evening is Jim O’Connor, an Islip Town councilman and active Kiwanis member who passionate about the charitable work done by the Kiwanis Club.

The $85-per-person ticket is made payable through, check, cash, and Venmo. Payment can be sent on Venmo to @kiwanis-islips-bayshore, and checks can be mailed to P.O. Box 543, Islip, NY 11751. To RSVP for the event or inquire about sponsorship opportunities, contact Sandy Flandina by calling (631) 882-4994, or Cathy by calling (631) 882-4543.