On May 18th, the Appleton Fox Cities Kiwanis Club and Appleton 3-2-1 Kiwanis held a Kiwanis n’ Cops n’ Kids reading at the Long Cheng Market in Appleton and dedicated our latest little library. During the dedication, Polly Olson, the newly-appointed Assistant Chief of the Appleton Police Department, read 'Camp K-9' while Maiyoua Thao, District 7 Alderperson for the City of Appleton and owner of Long Cheng Market, read 'Astrid and Apollo,' a story about a brother and sister at a Hmong New Year celebration, in honor of Asian American Heritage Month.
Assistant Chief Olson stated “I think it’s really important for kids to know that we’re the helpers in the community," she said. "And that by engaging them in activities outside of traditional law-enforcement, they can see us as humans, can see us as, in our case, moms, and hopefully feel like we’re approachable, and that they can always come to ask for help. That’s really what our primary role is in their life. “
Alderperson Thao added “We are the community now," she said. "And we’re just like everyone else. We bring our culture, our families. Many of our children are born here, they go to school here, they went to college, and they’re coming back to bring their talent here to the city of Appleton. We’re happy to be here. We’re going to work hard to make the city thrive with everyone else.“
Jean Long Manteufel, District Governor of Kiwanis for Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, created the service project, and hopes to see Cops N' Kids spread all over the region. If you are interested in bringing this program to your community, please contact Jean at jeanm@kiwanisncopsnkids.org.
Alderperson Thao added “We are the community now," she said. "And we’re just like everyone else. We bring our culture, our families. Many of our children are born here, they go to school here, they went to college, and they’re coming back to bring their talent here to the city of Appleton. We’re happy to be here. We’re going to work hard to make the city thrive with everyone else.“
Jean Long Manteufel, District Governor of Kiwanis for Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, created the service project, and hopes to see Cops N' Kids spread all over the region. If you are interested in bringing this program to your community, please contact Jean at jeanm@kiwanisncopsnkids.org.