Even after 40 years of volunteering in Lake Houston-area communities and beyond, the Kingwood Women’s Club is still aiming to expand its impact and help even more people in need, club President Diane Shreve said.
The overview
The club has about 160 members who are required to complete 50 hours of volunteering each year to retain membership, Shreve said. Women of all ages from all over the Greater Houston area are welcome to join the club, which meets monthly.
Shreve said the club members volunteer with about 14 different organizations, performing work such as:
- Helping teachers at local schools that have few parent volunteers
- Serving meals to people in need
- Spending time with people with Alzheimer's or dementia
“We’re very fortunate to have a diverse group of projects that we can all work on,” said Kathy Adkins, the club’s community liaison and a former president. “It works with everyone's schedule, so you find where your little niche is.”
The organization also holds fundraising events, including an annual Holiday Marketplace, where attendees can shop for presents, and a Mardis Gras Ball. The proceeds are then invested back into causes in the community, Adkins said.
The history
The Kingwood Women’s Club celebrated its 40th anniversary last year, in March, as previously reported by Community Impact.
The club was originally launched by 13 women back in 1985, Adkins said. The core values of the group were community, charity, camaraderie and commitment—which remains true today, she said.
“I'm very passionate about this organization,” Adkins said. “It has been everything I thought it could be and 10 times more. I've made wonderful, wonderful friends. I think we have done a tremendous service out here.”
Looking forward
After such a big milestone, the group’s leaders are focused on expanding their efforts even further by working with new nonprofits and hosting more fundraisers, said Ronna Hardage, the club’s public relations chair. In May, the group hosted its first food drive, which may become an annual event.
Shreve said she has been working toward establishing a relationship between the club and a nonprofit that helps teach people with disabilities life skills.
“[Volunteering] makes you realize how blessed you are, how lucky you are,” Hardage said. “It's not just Kingwood we serve. It's all over.”
