This signature Kiwanis fundraising effort had its beginning at Wrigley Field. During a rain delay at a Cubs game, two Kiwanians hit on the idea of putting peanuts in the shell, like those at the ballpark, into paper bags and asking for donations to raise funds for their clubs. Eight clubs participated in the first Peanut Day in September 1951. With limited publicity and experience these eight clubs managed to raise more than $18,000 in one day! Since then over $73 million has been raised by Kiwanis clubs for their charitable projects using the Kiwanis Peanut Days fund raising program. Peanut Days has become the most successful coordinated fund raising program in Kiwanis history. 

Kiwanis Peanut Days has donated pallets of peanuts over the past few years to U.S. troops overseas through Operations Support Our Troops - America.For many years our membership has participated in Operation Support Our Troops – America. Kiwanis peanuts donated by all are delivered to OSOT America warehouse in Lisle. Individual packets of these peanuts are then shipped to the men and women who have put themselves in harm’s way for the good of all of us. These little bags of peanuts supplied are great in filling those nooks and crannies in the care packages. Each package shipped has the name of one person on the label.