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The 10 individuals who are members of the Aktion Club of Freeborn County, along with the club’s leaders and community business partners, have a busy week ahead of them.

The Aktion Club, a Kiwanis International Service Leadership program, is a service club that gives adults with intellectual disabilities the chance to learn leadership skills and initiative through service in the community, said Jo Lowe, a member of the Day-Breakers Kiwanis Club and Aktion Club adviser.

“It gives them the chance to increase their skills, their leadership, their initiative, their listening skills. They’re working together as a team. That’s all important, too,” Lowe said. “It gives the chance for people with disabilities to give back to their community.”

The Aktion Club is sponsored by the Day-Breakers and Noon Kiwanis clubs and is also supported by the LIFE Center of Freeborn County, a local community center for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Since the county’s Aktion Club was established in 2009, members have done many different service projects. These include park cleanups, food drives, packing Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, playing bingo with seniors at Good Samaritan Society and taking May Day baskets to group homes in the area.

The club even had a booth at the Freeborn County Fair for disability awareness and inclusion awareness.

Aktion Week is designated by the international Kiwanis organization and runs from Monday through Friday. Each day has a different theme and idea for club members to participate in.

Monday will kick off Aktion Week with “show your K in every way.” Club members will wear Aktion Club T-shirts, put up posters around town and get the word out about the club.

Tuesday, “Kudos to Aktion” Day, will celebrate the Aktion Club itself by doing something special for the members.

Wednesday is “Dare to Care” Day, in which members will do a service project in the community.

On Thursday, “Kindness in Aktion,” members are encouraged to do something kind for someone. It can be something small, like holding the door open for someone, or it can be something bigger.

On Friday, members will “connect the Ks” by meeting and discussing what they did and learned throughout the week.

The Aktion Club is always looking for new members, Lowe said, adding the club had to stop meeting during the pandemic, and membership has not returned to pre-pandemic levels.

In addition to individuals, businesses are also welcome to support the Aktion Club.

“Our community can locally support these projects … support individuals,” Lowe said. “They have smiles on their face, and smiles on the people that they are with, too.”

The LIFE Center of Freeborn County also has a lot going on in 2025. They serve about 150 people in the county and organize many social, educational and recreational activities. This July will be their 50th Sparky Golf Tournament, according to executive director Patricia Schuster. She said the LIFE Center will celebrate the milestone with a goal to fundraise $50,000. Donations are always welcome.

For more information about the Aktion Club or the LIFE Center of Freeborn County, call 507-377-3469. Information about the Aktion Club can also be found at aktionclub.org.