The Taylorville Kiwanis Club heard from the leaders of the Taylorville Police Explorers Post during their weekly meeting at the Taylorville Moose Lodge on Tuesday.

Officer Jody Grove (first from left) and Dispatcher Kaylee Boston (2nd from left) from the Taylorville Police Department, and 4 of the 10 members of the post, shared information with Kiwanis members on the local chapter which is similar to a Boy Scout troop, but is focused on law enforcement.

Grove and Boston told Kiwanis members the post’s goals are to help the town while creating a sense of community, adding all members have uniforms and earn a rank just like the police department.

The pair added the T-P-D Explorers post is the first in Central Illinois, and does simulations of police situations as a way for chapter members to learn.  The post also does a large amount of community service such as collecting for the local Food Pantry, hosting a Kid’s Fishing Day, and organized a Thanksgiving Turkey Meal Drive-Thru.

The 4 post members attending told Kiwanis members the most challenging things for them being a member of the post, include memorizing police codes, being in the post while participating in many high school extra curricular activities, and getting them out of their comfort zone.

Tickets remain on sale for the annual 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.