The Taylorville Kiwanis Club heard about the Safe Passage Program to assist those with drug or alcohol addiction, and inducted a new member, during their weekly meeting at the Taylorville Moose Lodge on Tuesday.

Denise Evans is co-coordinator of the local Safe Passage Program, which was founded 5 years ago by Judge Brad Paisley and then-Kincaid Police Chief Dwayne Wheeler.  Evans with with Wheeler at Kincaid, and was asked by Wheeler to continue serving the program when he became Taylorville Police Chief.  Their goal was to get treatment for addicts to keep them out of jail if possible.

Evans told Kiwanis members that Safe Passage is a way to help addicts.

Evans told Kiwanis members that the non-profit organization has a network of local volunteers and police officers that drive what she called their “clients”, to state-supported drug or alcohol treatment centers where they can get treatment for 30 days before returning and hopefully not returning to their previous life and possibly jail.

Jeff Grimmett (left), the new Taylorville branch manager at People’s Bank and Trust, was inducted by Kiwanis membership chair Adam Jeffrey (right), as the newest member of the club.

Kiwanis members are reminded of several special events coming up.  Next Tuesday’s meeting will not be at noon, but rather be a cook-out at Kiwanis Park at 5:30pm that evening.   Taylorville High School Kiwanis scholarships will be presented.

Saturday, May 20th, the Kiwanis Club is co-sponsoring the annual Bike Rodeo in the parking lot at Taylorville Memorial Hospital.

Tuesday, May 23rd is the club’s annual Kiwanis Prayer Luncheon.

And, Kiwanis members are continuing to man the Miller Media Group Drive-Thru Donation Days this Saturday and next, to benefit the Taylorville Food Pantry.  The public is invited to donate non-perishable food and monetary donations those days from 9am to noon.

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.