Johnson County is still months away from one of its most beloved annual traditions.
But local residents can still get a taste of pork tenderloin, chicken tenders and other flavors of the Johnson County Fair, all while helping support programs supporting area students.
The Franklin Kiwanis Club will be hosting a fair food fundraiser on Friday to generate money for the annual scholarships the organization awards to local high school students. Supporters can come to the Johnson County fairgrounds to pick up either a tenderloin or chicken tenders meal, as well as fries and a bottled water.
“It’s been really hard on us this year not to give like we’ve been able to. That’s why we’ve really been brainstorming what we could do to get our scholarships up to where they need to be,” said Meg Clark, president of the Franklin Kiwanis Club.
The Kiwanis Club and fair food have a long history together. Each year, the organization sells hundreds of orders of food during the annual Johnson County fair, feeding hungry 4-Hers, families and fair-goers throughout the week.
Just that event alone provides thousands of dollars for the Kiwanis scholarship program, Clark said.
But though the organization did open their stand during the 2020 fair, proceeds were heavily reduced, due to attendee restrictions because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a normal year, they typically generate between $12,000 and $18,000 in funds; last year, they brought in $400 at the fair, Clark said.
“That tells you how hard it was for us,” she said. “Basically, last year was all about making sure the 4-Hers had food.”
Because of that shortfall, Kiwanis leadership was concerned about raising money for their scholarship fund. The organization provides scholarships for Franklin Community, Whiteland and Indian Creek high schools each year.
Providing for those students is a point of pride for the Kiwanis Club, in addition to supporting community groups such as KIC-IT and the Lord’s Locker, Clark said.
“Anything with children, those causes are close to our heart,” she said. “When money is available, our whole thing is to give it away.”
The idea to have a lunch fundraiser was inspired by the Jim Rhoades Memorial Hog Roast, which was held as a drive-through event in December by the Rotary Club. Seeing that it could work, Kiwanis officials wanted to try it themselves, Clark said.
The meals are $10 for a tenderloin, fries and a bottled water, or $8 for chicken tenders, fries and a bottled water.
“We won’t be doing a full fair menu, but the tenderloin and chicken tenders are our big sellers,” Clark said.
In addition to serving food, the Kiwanis Club is accepting donations for scholarships. Checks, payable to Franklin Kiwanis Club, can be mailed to PO Box 4, Franklin, IN 46131.
Clark hopes that this effort provides enough to make up their shortfall.
“We still want to do our scholarships, so we’re trying it,” she said.
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Kiwanis Fair Food Booth
What: A fundraiser featuring the Franklin Kiwanis Club’s famous tenderloins or chicken tenders, to generate money for the organization’s scholarship fund.
When: 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. April 23
Where: Johnson County fairgrounds
Cost: Tenderloin meal, including fries and bottled water, $10; chicken tenders meal, with fries and bottled water, $8
How to donate: Those who cannot make the fundraiser can still support the Kiwanis Club by sending a check to Franklin Kiwanis Club, PO Box 4, Franklin, IN 46131.
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