The Taylorville Kiwanis Club honored this month’s Kiwanis “Community Hero of the Month”, and heard about a local non-profit, during their weekly meeting at the Taylorville Moose Lodge on Tuesday.

Taylorville Mayor Bruce Barry (right) was given the March “Kiwanis Community Hero of the Month” award for his long-time support of the community and its high school sports programs.  Mayor Barry received the award from Kiwanis President-Elect Chuck Martin (left).

Program speaker during Tuesday’s meeting was Kiwanis member and Executive Director of the Loving Arms Crisis Pregnancy Center in Taylorville, Cathy Coker (left).   She was introduced by long-time and founding Loving Arms Board Member and Kiwanis member Dick Wamsley (right).  Coker told Kiwanis members that the center opened in 1999 and will celebrate its 25th anniversary next year, helping families deal with both unplanned pregnancies as well as parenting classes for couples with newborns.

Coker, who’s been Executive Director at the Center for 17 years, added that Loving Arms opened a 2nd center in Pana in 2020 assisting families there.  All services at both locations are free and supported by local donations and grants.  She emphasized that both locations operate with dedicated volunteers.

Coker said some examples of Loving Arms’ programs include parenting classes for both mother and father which then turn into “Earn While You Learn” dollars to purchase formula, diapers and items from the Center’s Baby Boutique.  The Center also provides an abstinence program at local high school and junior high schools in the area, reaching 570 students at 9 schools last year.

Coker shared with Kiwanis members that the Center also provides recovery programs for those who have chosen abortion in the past.

Kiwanis members were reminded of the upcoming Kiwanis Pancake and Sausage Breakfast Saturday, April 29th at the Moose Lodge.  Tickets are available from Kiwanis members or at the door.   The event is one of the largest fund-raisers of the year for the Kiwanis Club, providing monies for local projects such as Coats for Kids, Kiwanis Park, and Kiwanis high school scholarships.

The Taylorville Kiwanis Club is part of a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.  Weekly meetings are held Tuesdays at noon at the Taylorville Moose Lodge.  For information on the club, go to taylorvillekiwanis.com.