KYLE — The Kyle Lions Club is making moves to support and take care of the community by starting its first hoodie drive with locations throughout Kyle.
The first Lions Club was started more than 100 years ago in Chicago, Illinois. Now it has chapters all over the globe. According to its website, the Lions Club’s global causes include childhood cancer, disaster relief, hunger and vision care.
“The impact of Lions [Club] International crosses borders and covers continents. With 1.4 million members supported by a global foundation, we are a force for good serving in nearly every corner of the world,” reads the website. “We’re experts in kindness and equipped to serve when and where we’re needed most.”
“I think what I have found out about the Lions Club is that the community is so willing to come with us and help us,” said Kyle Lions Club Membership Chair Nelia Barrera, who noted that the nonprofit was able to collect approximately 7,000 diapers for a pregnancy, education and parenting school in late 2024. “There’s a lot of people with big hearts around here and we’re very, very grateful for everyone’s assistance.”
The Kyle Lions Club’s newest endeavor is a hoodie drive that benefits the Hays CISD Clothes Closet. This is a program that helps Hays CISD students in need by giving them clothing and shoes, school supplies and food assistance twice a year. The drive’s primary focus is to supply gently used or new warm jackets and hoodies to fight off the chilly weather.
There are several drop off locations for the hoodie drive, including the Kyle Area Senior Zone, Kyle City Hall, Denny’s in Kyle, the Hays County Sheriff’s Office and the Kyle Fire Department. At each location, there are boxes that the jackets and hoodies can be left in to be collected by a member of the Lions Club.
“We just do small, little things, but things that matter,” said Christopher Calkins, president of the Kyle Lions Club. “It’s just one thing at a time and to really help the community.”
The Kyle Lions Club meets twice a month at 7 p.m. at the AMVETS building, located at 401 Veterans Drive in Kyle. Its next meeting is March 13. For more information about the Kyle Lions Club, visit bit.ly/3X8YX44.
