09/16/2026
Back on August 1, the Kiwanis Club of Kutztown-Brandywine Heights participated in the annual Brandywine Public Library Tortoise Trek Creek Race event this morning at the Topton Community Park. It was a celebration of the birthday of Sheldon, the library's tortoise mascot! Sheldon is endeared in the Topton community. He is a denizen of the library, where he is often found wandering around the floor with a balloon attached to his shell so staff and children who visit can locate him. Sheldon was the star of the event. There was a tortoise-themed raffle fundraiser. Our club had a tent with free books for the children, Early Learning Guides, bracelet-building area and prizes. We inflated the Kiwanis logo sign and had several inquiries about Kiwanis and how to join the KBH club. There was a professional face-painter, yard games, a display of children's artwork depicting Sheldon, arts and crafts, and free cupcakes for the kids. At least 60 families attended the 2-hour event. The weather was perfect!. However the local stream was too low to have the actual creek race featuring numbered, small rubber tortoises. So they were just picked out of a bin. The Brandywine Public Library is a corporate member of the KBH club. We appreciated the opportunity to support them by having a tent at the event.
