Are you passionate about community service, leadership, and fellowship? Then Circle K International (CKI) might be just the club for you.
“Brookdale doesn’t have many service-based clubs, and we wanted to change that,” said Mairene Cisneros, a 18-year-old from Long Branch and the president of Brookdale’s Circle K International.
Circle K International is part of the Kiwanis family, a global organization dedicated to community service. While Key Club serves as the high school branch and Kiwanis itself is typically made up of adult volunteers, CKI provides college students with the opportunity to lead, serve and grow in a meaningful way.
While the club is still in the process of becoming officially recognized, that hasn’t stopped them from jumping into action.
Circle K meets weekly on Wednesdays at 2 p.m. in PAC 105.
Typical Meet
Circle K meetings are friendly, fun, and full of purpose. Members participate in hands-on service projects such as making virtual cards for patients at St. Jude’s Hospital, coloring cheerful pages for “Color a Smile,” and writing letters to seniors in assisted living. One of their past meetings also included playing the game Garlic Phone to help build connections among members.
“We try to focus on small projects for now while we wait for bigger things to get approved,” said Mairene. Despite not being an official club yet, they’ve already begun planning service activities like a sock drive for soldiers, volunteering with senior living homes and assembling blessing bags for those in need.
Future Events
Circle K members recently attended DECON, a district-wide conference for CKI chapters across New Jersey. The club also plans to raise funds by running a stand at “Godspell” performances in the PAC. As soon as the club is officially recognized, even more events and volunteer efforts will be launched.
Why Join?
Mairene shared that after meeting the previous president, JP, at the Involvement Fair, he spoke to her about a charity project related to building homes in Africa. Their conversation got her interest, and excited about the idea of connecting with others who were just as passionate about community service as she was.
Would you be a good fit?
Anyone who enjoys giving back and building community is welcome. Whether you’re outgoing or on the quieter side, there’s a place for you. “Even if you’re shy, we just want people who are there to have a good time, even if you’re just smiling and not talking,” Mairene said.
As someone who was part of Key Club in high school, serving as both Treasurer and Security Officer during my junior and senior years of high school, I can confidently say that clubs like CKI are a great opportunity to build leadership skills, make new friends, and create a real impact in your community.
Social Media
Stay updated with CKI Brookdale by following them on Instagram: @ckibrookdale. They post weekly updates and highlights from their meetings and events. 
