Collinsville Study Club continues tradition of serving others
The Collinsville Study Club has been a part of the town’s history since April of 1929. Through the decades, the Study Club has followed its motto: “We study that we may serve.”
I enjoyed learning about this civic group when I attended their monthly meeting on June 2 at the family-owned Mountain Parkway Grill where we enjoyed the friendly atmosphere and sweet tea and lemon served in Mason jars.
Club member Jennifer Wilkins said, “The goal of the club is to be of service to the community.” I learned, based on the group’s year-end report, that the Study Club did not fall short of this goal.
The group recently donated a $300 book scholarship to a local Collinsville High School student and $200 to the Friends of DeKalb County Animal Adoption Center.
Other examples of Study Club work include bringing guest speakers to the community to conduct forums on domestic violence and a partnership with the Alliance for Community Trees to help plants trees throughout the community.
One of the continuous projects the club worked on the past year is saving pop top tabs for the Ronald McDonald House as well as soda bottle caps and Box Tops for Education for local schools.
Study Club members also sponsored a face-painting booth as part of Collinsville’s annual Turkey Trot and helped with the community’s Quilt Walk.
During the cold winter months, the Study Club donated funds for the purchase of warm coats, underclothing, groceries, diapers, and toys to local single-parent families. The group also donated to the Collinsville Cemetery Board and to the town’s annual Duck Race that helps support community projects.
Members present at the June meeting included: current president and treasurer Jennifer Barber, Frannie Koe, Jennifer Wilkins, Patricia Bachelor, Martha Barksdale, Christine Steele, Rebecca Clayton, Trinka Paton, and Jean Box. The members agreed that they’re not here to hold onto what they make, but instead they said they hope to give back to others in any way they can.
After the conclusion of the meeting, new officers were installed. The officers for the coming year will be: Christine Steele, president; Frannie Koe, vice president; Rebecca Clayton, secretary, Jennifer Barber, treasurer; Anna Wright, reporter; Patricia Bachelor, librarian; and Claire Chandler, parliamentarian.
I felt honored to learn more about a club that has been serving Collinsville for so long. These women all truly have a common thread of wanting to help others, and that is what keeps them inspired to serve organizations and other people in the community.
Tags: Collinsville
