By Lanell Downs Smith

The Kiwanis Club of Luverne met Aug. 6 to plan meeting programs for the upcoming year. Members share responsibilities for supplying program topics and speakers and the meeting was aimed at making sure the group received assignments for when they would coordinate the program. On Aug. 20, the group will host head football coaches from all four Crenshaw County high schools.

Kiwanian Sue Blackmon explained that the purpose of the Kiwanis Club and mission of Kiwanis members is to provide help in any way possible to the children of local communities and the world.  The Kiwanis Club of Luverne was chartered in 1977 as part of Kiwanis International with 47 charter members.  

In 1987 Kiwanis International allowed women to join and in 1988 Cathy Perdue, CPA with Gibson and Carden and Blackmon, who was vice president of First Citizens Bank, became the first women members of the Luverne chapter.  

“We have participated in Kiwanis International Worldwide Projects to irradicate iodine deficiency from the world,” Blackmon said. “Iodine deficiency was the single greatest cause of preventable brain damage and mental disability in the world. [We also helped] to eliminate tetanus throughout the world by providing tetanus vaccines to protect millions of mothers of child bearing age and their future babies.”

According to Blackmon, Kiwanis has sponsored many local school projects and organizations throughout the county, including Key Clubs in the Crenshaw County high schools.  

“Each year Kiwanis hosts a “Honors Day” luncheon to spotlight and congratulate the Honor Students from each school,” Blackmon said.

Since 1982 Kiwanis has participated in Crenshaw County observance of the National Farm-City Week Program.  

We sponsor a Kindergarten Tour which brings all the Kindergarten students from all the schools to the Tom Harbins Farm Center to give them an opportunity to experience farm animals and equipment first hand and learn about farm life,” Blackmon said. “Then we host a luncheon for farm and agribusiness leaders of the county to “strengthen the understanding of the farm and city connection that provides our food, fiber and shelter.”

In 2015, members of the Kiwanis Club of Luverne raised $60,300 to build the new playground at Turner Park.

“Our two largest annual projects are Operation Santa Claus and scholarships for all of the county schools,” Blackmon said. “Each year we contribute to Crenshaw County Department of Human Resources (DHR) for Operation Santa Claus to help provide Christmas presents for kids who may not otherwise have as much. The Chicken Shack helps to supplement our donation by allowing us to keep the peppermint candy box at the register for their generous customers to purchase peppermints.”  

“We also sponsor a golf tournament each year to raise funds for scholarships for each of the school’s seniors. With the help of all the wonderful golfers who participated in the tournament this year we were able to award $6,500 in scholarships.”

Kiwanis Club of Luverne meets at the Chicken Shack in Luverne on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Meetings begin at 12 p.m. with a meal and then an informative program featuring a local speaker or club member describing a local effort or business. The Aug. 20 meeting will feature a roundtable discussion with head football coaches from Luverne, Brantley and Highland Home high schools as well as Crenshaw Christian Academy.

To learn more about the Kiwanis Club of Luverne, contact any member or visit a regular club meeting.