Kids need Kiwanis, and George County kids are lucky to have a thriving Kiwanis Club.
Lucedale Kiwanis Club celebrated its 25th anniversary this spring. The Lucedale chapter formed in 1999. Coe-Alice Sturgis is the only remaining active charter member of the group of 20-plus founders. She serves on the Board of Directors along with Amy Delcambre, Raymon Hanser, Alice Knight and Lena Jordan. Club officers are Stephanie Chisholm and Kelly Dixon who serve as co-presidents, Brandy Havard who serves as secretary, and Jessica Neese who serves as treasurer.
Other members are Courtney Weatherford, Jarrett Williams, Daisye Campbell, Terra Johnson, Jason Anders, Kelly Walker, Angie Moffett, Tina McDoniel, Megan Goff, Erin Mixon, Lindsey Varnadore, Steve Lott, Tamara Dunn, Margaret Love, Ashley Davis, Leigh Ann Havens, Erica Holloway, Amber Carter, Susan Tanner, Camille Holland, David Miller, Julie He’bert, Amy Erkhart, Jacie Giddens, Randy Pierce, Sarah Dancsisin, Lindsey Fairley, Halen Papania, Kaci Wilburn, Deanna Turner and the East Central Civic Club.
According to the Kiwanis International website, the organization’s mission is to be a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time. Serving children is at the core of Kiwanis. Without a doubt, the local Kiwanians have kept that motto in focus through their many youth-driven projects. Its largest events are a drawdown and character pancake breakfast which help fund projects such as the Kiwanis Toddler Park. The park is designed for children ages four and younger and is part of the City Park renovation effort. Club members also stock several of the Little Free Libraries stationed throughout the county and help seniors at George County High School attend prom if they need assistance with attire and accessories.
They also ring the bell for Salvation Army fundraising, participate in the Christmas parade, and help with worthy causes such as the Angel Tree Program, Christmas for Needy Children, Treats in the Streets, the George County Sheriff’s Department Annual Clothing and Toy Drive, uniforms for students in the George County school system, Singing River Head Start, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Throughout the years they have contributed thousands of dollars locally to benefit youth at places like the George County Soccer Complex and all three city parks in Lucedale. They have bought heart defibrillators for all elementary schools, purchased multiplication flash cards for third graders across the county, bought first aid supplies for elementary schools and supported school libraries. The list goes on.
Kiwanis began in 1915 in Detroit, Mich. as a business networking organization. In 1919 it changed its focus to service, specifically service to children. Internationally Kiwanis has 438,087 adult members in clubs across 82 nations. There are 254,627 youth members in Kiwanis sponsored organizations such as the Key Club. Each year the Kiwanis family of clubs devote more than 7.3 million hours to service.
Happy 25th anniversary to the Lucedale club. Because of them, a bunch of children are lucky kids.
