By Gerri Miller
Staff Writer
The Millbrook-Coosada Kiwanis Club has a new president who is ready for its members to get back to raising money to help area children.
Joyce Evans was named president after previous President Richard Yon recently died unexpectedly.
Though saddened by the sudden loss of their leader, the club members knew they had to continue the good works of the Kiwanis Club.
The COVID-19 pandemic has held the club back from its activities and Evans said she is working to get the club back to its normal routine.
One area Evans said she plans to work on is increasing membership. The organization currently has around 20 members, she said.
The Club normally has a pancake breakfast in the spring which last year had to be cancelled. Evans said this is the organization’s biggest fundraiser and the money goes to local schools. She said last year Kiwanis helped Stanhope Elmore High School and Holtville High School pay for projects. The organization especially helps Key Clubs.
The organization has a second fundraiser through the Alabama National Fair when it comes through in the fall.
“It is so important that we find ways to help the children in our community,” Evans said. “It means everything because they are our future.”
Anyone interested in community service and making new friends is invited to join the organization. It meets every Wednesday at noon at the Plantation House restaurant in Millbrook. The club normally has a speaker each month but hasn’t done so this year because of the pandemic.
“Chef Renata prepares a wonderful lunch for us,” Evans said. “The atmosphere is great and there are awesome people there.”
Evans is the Branch Operations Officer at First Community Bank of Central Alabama in Millbrook. She has worked there since the bank was called First National Bank in 1987 minus seven years she served as the bookkeeper at Stanhope Elmore High School.
She is an ambassador for the Millbrook Chamber of Commerce and is on the Elmore County Schools and Career Technical Education Advisory Council. She is also a board member for the Elmore County Art Guild.
She is married to Larry Evans and has two adult children and two grandchildren. She said she loves to travel to Atlanta to see her family
“I love to be around kids – that’s my passion,” Evans said. “I guess that’s why I love Kiwanis – we are always helping kids.”
What is Kiwanis?
Kiwanis International is a global community of clubs, members and partners dedicated to improving the lives of children one community at a time. Today, they stand with more than 550,000 members from K-Kids to Key Club to Kiwanis and many ages in between in 80 countries and geographic areas. Each community has different needs, and Kiwanis empowers members to pursue creative ways to serve the needs of children, such as fighting hunger, improving literacy and offering guidance.
Kiwanis clubs host nearly 150,000 service projects each year.
