With the mission of serving the community, Texas A&M University-Kingsville’s (TAMUK) chapter of Lions Club International does volunteer work across the Kingsville area.
For three years TAMUK Lions have been a club on campus.
The club volunteers around Kingsville in various community service projects.While the club does participate in general volunteer work, the club especially likes to focus on volunteer work benefiting children with special needs. Since 2015, the club’s biggest event is the “Very Merry Kingsville Christmas.”
At this event the club gets to interact with and celebrate the holiday season with children who have special needs.
The club also hosts events that help fundraise for local charities. For example, in Fall 2018 the club hosted a PokeGo Fest during which people could get tickets to play different Pokémon-themed games at various booths.
“If anyone has an interest in helping their community the TAMUK Lions is a great club to join. While our focus is on children with special needs we do help out in other events. For example, in the past, we have volunteered at the Selena Festival and Wings Over Texas. We’re a great place to make new friends and have new experiences. Giving back to your community is a great feeling,” Tiffany Cyr, the club’s vice-president, said.
Brandon Clark, the club’s president, has been a member of the organization for three years during which he has served in different roles and changed his college experience.
“Being a part of this club has made me go beyond just going to class and back to my dorm. I have been with this organization for a year as a member, a year as a vice president, and now a year as a president. I have made friends with everyone in the club, and have been able to network with members from other Lions Clubs. More importantly, I have been able to serve my community with my friends,” Clark said.
The club works to help better the community, but for its members it can also serve as a chance to meet new people and get involved in the community.
“I believe that joining the Lions would be a great way of getting students engaged into the community and also a great way to learn new ways of serving the community,” member of the TAMUK Lions Robert Garza said.
Similarly, Cyr credits the club for helping her grow as a person.
“Also, this club has helped me to be more social. I’m introverted by nature but doing community service makes it so I have to get out and interact with others. I love that this club gives me the opportunity to get out and experience new things and meet new people. I’ve made many new friends through this organization and have had a great time working with them throughout my time here,” Cyr said.
For students interested in joining a club that works to serve the local community, TAMUK Lions’ next club meeting will be at 6 p.m. March 20 in Rhode Hall, Room 212. As Clark said, “We hope to see new faces at our club meetings!”
