Civic Involvement – Make a Difference | Suburban Living Magazine

If you’re looking for an excuse as to why you shouldn’t be part of a civic group in Holly Springs, you don’t have to look far. No time, kids, work…and the list goes on and on. The real question, is if you’re not part of a Holly Springs civic organization, why not?

There are some misconceptions about the organizations. We thought it would serve the organizations well to shed some light on some of the groups that make a difference in Holly Springs. You don’t get mailers from them, and they don’t come knocking on your door asking for you to join. The truth is that they wait for you to come to them, at which point your welcome to spend some time with the group and learn about them, and who they are, before being asked if you’d like to be involved. Here’s some info about just a few of the Holly Springs groups

Masons

The Holly Springs Masonic Lodge is a benevolent and social organization deeply involved with the societal development of the Holly Springs community since the completion of the Lodge building in ca. 1852. The Lodge’s earliest members were the community’s most prominent citizens, but Lodge membership extended to men of various social stations. Its membership rolls include men who were local politicians, educators, ministers, and building contractors. These men espoused Masonic principles of charity, morality, and benevolence, and inclusiveness at local cornerstone ceremonies, and provided both financial and in-kind contributions to Lodge members and members of the community

The Lodge began its benevolence in the community during the mid-nineteenth century when there were very few social or charitable organizations in Holly Springs other than those started by churches to provide ministry and support for their own parishioners. The Lodge began providing a service to its members and the community between 1858 and 1859 when they voted to allow vacancies in the recently formed female school to be filled by the orphans of deceased members. They also later rented the first floor of the lodge to churches, schools, the Red Cross, and the Wake County Health Department for polio vaccinations.

During the twentieth century, local charitable efforts in Holly Springs were led by individuals, churches, the Woman’s School Betterment Association, and, predominantly, by the Holly Springs Masonic Lodge. During World War I, the Lodge invested funds in war bonds and assisted with the fund-raising effort to construct a building at Camp Sevier for soldiers that were Masons. In 1943 and 1944, the Lodge contributed funds to the United War Fund and American Red Cross. In 1956, they began a tradition of giving gifts to the families and widows of Masons in Holly Springs.

During the past several decades, the Lodge has increased membership and continues to provide support to the Holly Springs Community and dedicates itself to the principles of charity to many organizations. How does one become involved with Masonry? Although the policy of the fraternity prohibits direct marketing and solicitation of members, it does welcome interested men to learn of the fraternity and submit an application for membership. Our Lodge meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month with a fellowship meal the first meeting of every month. We welcome men women and children to visit and meet with the Brothers at the fellowship dinner and experience the camaraderie and history of our Lodge. Our membership has seen significant increases during the past 10 years and our contributions to the community also have been increasing.

Following in the tradition of charity and benevolence, the Lodge has incorporated issuing scholarships to Holly Springs’ residents pursuing four year and two year college degrees. In addition the Lodge participates in numerous Town events to include, HollyFest, Farmers Market, Holly Springs Arts Council, Christmas Parade and others. We continue to support the Masonic Home and Whitestone along with sponsoring and supporting motorcycle travelling Lodge activities for the needy.

If you desire to improve yourself and perform good deeds for society then please visit our Lodge and get to know us.http://hs115.org

Kiwanis_Club_Logo

Kiwanis

The Kiwanis Club of Holly Springs is very proud to be a part of giving back to the children of our community. The club is composed of men and women of all ages. In addition, high school Key Club members participate in their activities and fund-raisers.

They are a diverse group, open to all and are always looking for community-minded individuals who understand the importance of giving back just a little.

If you love children and want to help them, they invite you to contact them about a Kiwanis Membership. Commitments are nominal, yet have astounding effects. Here’s some info from them:

What We Believe: Children Come First

One of the most effective ways to enhance Holly Springs is to invest in our children first. We believe that when you give a child the chance to learn, dream, experience, and succeed, great things will happen.

It is our passion and commitment to help the children of Holly Springs lead happy, healthy, and successful lives. We live our creed that the needs of children are Priority One.

How We Make a Difference

The vast majority of funds we raise remains in Holly Springs to serve the children within our community. Our funds have been used for activities such as:

Sponsoring Key Clubs at Holly Springs and Middle Creek High Schools

Assisting programs such as drama, art, dance, and the lacrosse team at Holly Springs High School

Providing dictionaries to local elementary school students

Providing professional tutoring to K-2 grade Holly Springs students who are under-privileged and at-risk of failing academically

Contributing to The Holly Springs Police Department Youth Academy

What We Do

The Kiwanis Club of Holly Springs sponsors several major child-focused fund-raisers and projects each year. All are held right here in our town including: Kids’ Appreciation Day/Annual Terrific Kids Award Ceremony

Happy Holly Days Parade

Kiwanis Wake County Literacy Project

Kiwanis One-Day Service Project.

Join Us in Helping Change Our Community “One Child at a Time”

The Kiwanis Club of Holly Springs was chartered in 2002. Our members and volunteers work together to provide events, support and appreciation for the children in our community. Click on the links above to learn more about our club and activities.

If you are interested in being a member of a civic club and helping to make a difference for the children of your community, please read about joining and be our guest for dinner at a meeting.

Prospective members and visiting Kiwanians are invited to attend our monthly meetings on the fourth Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. at Devils Ridge Golf Club. http://www.hollyspringskiwanis.org

Rotary

Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. In more than 160 countries worldwide, approximately 1.2 million Rotarians belong to more than 30,000 Rotary clubs.

The Holly Springs Rotary Club is a local branch that represents a cross-section of the community’s professional men and women working together to serve various organizations in need. Because Holly Springs is not a large community, it is even more crucial to have the support of a Rotary Club that can provide planned and organized support that would normally not be in place.

The Holly Springs Rotary Club brings the outstanding principles of Rotary to our local community through building strong relationships and planning events that will raise desperately needed funds or materials. The other valuable contribution is the time that goes into planning and serving at each event. The Holly Springs Club is one of the newer Rotary clubs in the Triangle, but now having eight years under our belt has blessed us with having a solid framework in place to greatly impact Holly Springs throughout each year!

The main objective of Rotary is service — in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world. Rotarians develop community service projects that address many of today’s most critical issues, such as children at risk, poverty and hunger, the environment, illiteracy, and violence. They also support programs for youth, educational opportunities and international exchanges for students, teachers, and other professionals, and vocational and career development. The Rotary motto is Service Above Self.

The Holly Springs Rotary Club is involved in:

Meals on Wheels –Every month on the 1st, 3rd and 5th (if there is one) Tuesday we pick up lunches at the Pine Acres Community Center in Fuquay-Varina, and deliver them to homes in Holly Springs area.

Rotary Golf Tournament – Since 2006, the Holly Springs Rotary Club has raised money to benefit hundreds of families in the Holly Springs area. In 2014, the beneficiary was The Holly Springs Food Cupboard.

HollyFest BBQ

The group is also involved in everything from roadside cleanup to giving scholarships to local students (see last issue – “Overcoming Adversity” article.)

Rotary membership is by invitation only. If you would like to learn more about the Holly Springs Rotary Club and its various service projects, you can visit them online.

The Holly Springs Rotary Club meets weekly for fellowship, breakfast, event planning, along with an informative presentation from a guest speaker.

Meeting Time: Wednesday at 7:30 AM

Meeting Location: Devils Ridge Golf Club

http://hollyspringsrotary.com