NILES — James Wruck, president of Kiwanis Club of Niles/Southwestern Michigan, has this nickname for his group’s annual service event: “Give kids the boot.” Read without context, it appears to come in conflict with Kiwanis’ motto, “Serving the Children of the World.”

Wruck’s event nickname, however, is a playful pun for a service opportunity that is poised to donate its 1,000th pair of winter boots to a needing area student this winter.

The local Kiwanis Club’s boot drive has been around for about 10 years, and every winter, about 100 pairs of boots are donated, Wruck, of Granger, said.

“Clubs have what are called signature projects,” he said. “The idea is a project that your club is engaged in that’s meaningful to the community and they can point to. This is our signature project.”

Throughout the year, Kiwanis Club collects monetary donations to purchase pairs of boots. A typical pair costs about $25.

Then, when autumn overtakes summer, fundraising efforts and outreach are amped. Kiwanis’ 14 members are also assigned to different Brandywine, Buchanan, Niles and St. Mary’s district schools during this time. The members will work with teachers to find which students appear to need boots once the first snowfall hits.

This year, Niles’ and Brandywine’s high school Key Clubs, which are sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Niles/Southwestern Michigan, will package a pair of socks with each pair of boots.

By Christmas, all of the boots and socks Kiwanis and the two Key Clubs have collected and stored at Circle Federal Credit Union’s Niles location are picked up and delivered to the schools, who then distribute the winter wear to identified students.

Winter boots can keep kids warm, whether at recess or when walking outside of school. When that is accomplished, barriers are removed, Wruck said.

“Kids have enough stress these days, and if we can take away a little bit of that’s stress, that’s helpful,” he said.

The responses from children have historically been moving, Wruck said.

Susan Larson, Kiwanis Club member and a Circle Federal Credit Union vice president, shared a picture given by a child to Kiwanis Club. The child had colored in an outline of a winter boot, and wrote, “Thank you thank you thank you very very very much for getting me these boots. The boots I had were 2 sizes small. [sic.]”

“You hear some really tear-jerking things,” Wruck said. “One of the kids said, ‘If I didn’t have these boots, I would’ve had to wear my mother’s, and she couldn’t go out.’”

Donations are accepted at all times. Boots not distributed this winter will saved for the next.

Wruck said checks can be made payable to Kiwanis Club of Niles/Southwestern Michigan and sent by mail or in person to Circle Federal Credit Union, 507 E. Main St., Niles, MI 49120.

More direct help can be provided as well. Wruck said the club is searching for more members. The group meets at noon Thursdays at Hob Nob Bistro, 1109 S. 11th St.