Jim Evans, director of the Ohio office of the Children of the Nations (COTN), was this past week's Ada Kiwanis Club speaker. In January, the organization opened an office in Kenton.

Evans gave an overview the organization that currently supports a consistent partnership with 13 different villages in five different countries.

Children of the Nations focuses on ministering to orphaned and destitute children, raising them to transform nations. The organization uses only 10 percent of its donations for overhead expenses.

Evans explained that each employee of the office/group needs to raise donations for their own support.They use a variety of fund-raising activities. One interesting activity provides coin banks to children (though churches and school programs).

Evans said that one of the activities that he recently organized involved using 70 volunteers for about 1 1/2 hours  to package 10,000-plus meals for transport to Haiti.

The organization's focus this year is to make smile packs that include filling one-gallon Ziplock bags with school and personal hygiene supplies. Also, it hopes to hold a graduation in one of the villages and need 70 graduation gowns (donations accepted). For more information, see: http://www.cotni.org.