Newton County is home to three civics clubs that each act with the intention of helping the people in the community.

The Kiwanis Club, Lions Club and Rotary Club connect with the people of the county through events, fundraisers and drives that are organized with the purpose of enhancing the local area.

Kiwanis Club

Helping children is at the forefront for the Kiwanis Club of Covington.

Headed by judge Melanie Bell, the Covington Kiwanis Club strives to help children in many different capacities through different events, fundraisers and drives. 

“We have a motto of, ‘Saving the children of the world,’” Bell said. “That is what we are about, everything we do is child focused. It doesn’t mean those are the only things we give to, but most of our community service is centered around children.”

Bell mentioned how the Kiwanis Club works with A Child’s Voice, which is a child advocacy center in Social Circle. 

The club also has a program called Young Children Priority One. Bell spoke about this program and how the club has used it to help children aged 0-5 years old get accessible books.

Along with that, the club also sponsors a Miracle League each year and even goes out to cheer on the team to victory during their games.

The club has also made an impact in the Newton County School System, too.

For each high school, the Kiwanis Club has a $3,000 scholarship that is awarded to a student annually along with running an annual feminine hygiene drive.

“If people are on food stamps, you can’t buy any feminine hygiene with those funds,” Bell said. “We started collecting every year and doing a drive and we started taking those to the middle schools. We also collect some other hygiene items [such as] face wash and deodorant. We give those to the counselors at the middle schools.”

One of the biggest events for the Kiwanis Club each year is their golf tournament, which is held at the Ashton Hills Golf Course. This year’s tournament will be held on May 20.

With the club helping children and the community through many different avenues, Bell feels that the Covington Kiwanis Club is one of the better little-known things about Newton County.

“We have talked about as a board that we feel we are one of the best kept secrets in Newton County which is not good,” Bell said. “We want people to know what we do so they can know we are out here.”

Lions Club

The Covington Lions Club has continued with its mission of serving since its creation.

The club is led by president Russ Thompson, who boiled down the club’s purpose to one word.

“The Lions club is a service organization,” Thompson said. “The one of the mottos of the Lions Clubs is that we serve.”

The Covington Lions Club was founded in 1952.

One big part of the Lions Club’s service to the community is through charitable contributions.

“Last year, our club donated over $27,000 to different organizations. We contribute to the Lions Lighthouse, which is an organization that provides free glasses to people who need them. Lions Club has a camp for the Blind, we contribute to that every year.”

Working with the Lions Lighthouse is just one of the many areas where the club works to help people struggling with vision.

The club works with all 14 elementary schools in the county to administer vision exams with two machines that the club purchased itself.

One of the bigger events that is hosted by the Lions Club is their annual chicken barbeque.

Along with that, the club also does an annual pancake supper and chili supper. Thompson also mentioned how the club sponsors the Christmas parade in downtown Covington and assists the Covington Police Department in Fuzz Run.

The Lions Club helps the students of Newton County, too, as the club gives two scholarships to each of the three high schools in the county.

Above all, Thompson discussed the people within the club and the impact they have had on each other and the community.

“It is not just a place to go work and help raise money. We have a good time doing it and there are a lot of friendships there,” Thompson said. “It’s just a group of men and women who enjoy what they are doing and contribute to the community.”

Rotary Club

The Rotary Club of Covington is a group of individuals inspired to make lasting change in the community.

The club is led by president Lauren Poynter.

Poynter discussed the foundation of the club and how they work on many different things within the community.

“Our mission is to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill and peace through our fellowship of business, professional and community leaders,” Poynter said.

Connecting with the community and serving it to fulfillment is one of Poynter’s selling points to those interested in the club.

“Rotary is a service club. Its product is serving,” Poynter said. “Rotarians provide community service to both local and international communities. This is perhaps the best reason for becoming a Rotarian: the chance to do something for somebody else and to sense the self-fulfillment that comes in the process and return that satisfaction to one’s own life. It is richly rewarding.”

One strong point that Poynter harped on is the diversity within the club and its ability to connect with many different parts of the community.

“Rotary consists of a cross section of every business community,” Poynter said. “Its members come from all walks of life.  I envisioned working to attract new members from diverse backgrounds and professions, fostering a dynamic and inclusive club environment where members feel valued, engaged, and motivated to contribute.

“Our club is fortunate enough to have a diverse team of dedicated members. We have educators, surgeons, Bank Presidents, Load officer, local business owners, realtors, elected officials, retired law enforcement and beyond.  We are somewhat of a small club so we all wear many hats.”

The Rotary Club hosts a variety of events that include: community clean-ups, fundraising galas, health camps and educational workshops. According to Poynter, the events are designed to address a specific community need.

With a long list of events, there are a couple that Poynter holds in high regard.

“Our signature event is the annual onion sale and Gun raffle, both of which raise funds for the Empty Stocking Fund and various other service projects,” Poynter said.

The Rotary Club also highlights youth programs, such as Interact and Rotaract. This program provides leadership development opportunities, mentoring and support for youth-led initiatives.

With a lot to look forward to for Poynter and the rest of the Rotary Club, she shined light on what Covington and Newton County can expect.

“For the rest of 2024, you can expect to see The Rotary Club of Covington continue to expand its efforts in community service, with a focus on sustainability and education,” Poynter said. “We’re planning several new initiatives aimed at supporting underprivileged youth and promoting environmental conservation. Additionally, we’ll be strengthening our collaborations with local organizations to broaden the impact of our work. Our club is also excited about hosting an international service project, which will offer our members the opportunity to engage in hands-on service opportunities abroad.”