Pulling weeds at local parks or feeding the homeless are not normal free-time tasks for Sacramento State students. But for the Circle K Club, a division of the nationally acclaimed global volunteer organization Kiwanis International, serving the community is a regular activity.

Circle K President Garrett Coyne, sophomore civil engineering major, said Circle K operates with three main values: service, leadership and fellowship.

“We’re just students who enjoy helping others in the community around us,” Coyne said. “We don’t require our members to do community service – it is something they actually want to do.”

Branching off from Kiwanis, Circle K is a group just for college students. From the “Key Club” in high school, Coyne said Kiwanis created the club to bring the different age groups together and help the students continue with helping the community at the college level.

“For any part of your life there is a piece of the Kiwanis Club that you can join to better those around you,” Coyne said.

One event Coyne particularly enjoys is the William Land Park renovation, where the club helps clear weeds and trim bushes.

“We are the only college students in the group of volunteers that help beautify the park,” Coyne said. “We’re definitely giving Sac State a good name.”

Last weekend, club secretary Flora Gonvalez, freshman photography major, and other members of Circle K prepared and served brunch to those in need at the St. John’s Shelter Program for Women and Children in Sacramento.

Serving alongside the East Sacramento midtown Kiwanis Club, Gonvalez said the groups collaborated to better serve the community.

“I enjoyed seeing the women come in with their children and get the free meal,” Gonvalez said. “You can see just how grateful the families are – it just brightens my day.”

Besides those in need, Coyne said the club also helps the members from within the organization. From public speaking to forming friendships, he said the club provides students with skills to better themselves.

“The majority of the friendships I have made during college (have been) through the club,” Coyne said. “Not to mention the leadership and life skills that I can use later in life.”

The club does have an annual fee of $30, but any student looking to better the community around them can join.

Circle K meets at 5:30 p.m. every Thursday in Brighton Hall, Room 202, and those interested in joining are encouraged to attend. For questions or further information, the club president can be reached at [email protected].

“Everyone has an hour or two of free time that they can use to better the community,” Gonvalez said. “We are a group full of people with hearts of gold – it doesn’t take much to be a good person.”