Disaster Relief

Northwest Kiwanis is committed to aiding those in need both domestically and abroad.  When emergencies arise, Kiwanis comes together as an international family to help the world in need.  Recently, disaster relief efforts were centered in helping those people most affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  for more information regarding current disaster relief efforts please click here, and use the online form to submit your question or concern.


Iodine Deficiency Disorder

IDD is the major preventable cause of mental retardation in the world today.  Most people in the United States under the age of 75 have never heard of this, as it has been nearly eradicated in the 1940's in Western nations.  However, many places in the world do not have sufficient soil iodine to support growing, young bodies.  The results of a lack of iodine can be disfiguring goiters and severe mental retardation.  Even though a nickels worth of iodine per person can stop IDD, many places in the world are still too poor to take the step to stop this scourge, and millions of children pay the price.  In the mid-1990's Kiwanis International took on the challenge of raising $75 million to fund and build iodizing plants around the world - and bring an end to this terrible disease.  Kiwanis partnered with Morton Salt to help in fund raising as well as UNICEF.  In an earlier fund raising project, Northwest Kiwanis alone was able to raise $26000 and in August 2000, Kiwanis International reached the goal of $75 million.  Northwest Kiwanis would like to thank everyone who helped in the fund raising effort and those who continue to battle IDD.