The Exchange Club of Selma celebrated 100 years of community service by presenting $500 checks to three local charities.
The club presented checks to the Special Needs Children of Selma and Dallas County through the George P. Evans Benefit Fund, Central Alabama Regional Child Advocacy and the Selma Dallas County Food Bank at a June 2 ceremony.
The checks were presented by Exchange Club of Selma President Thomasene Johnson to Jeannie Evans and Carrie Bearden for Special Needs Children, Lauri Cothran for Regional Child Advocacy and Jeff Harrison for the Selma Dallas County Food Bank.
Harrison said the Selma Dallas County Food Bank will use its check to purchase more food to distribute. He said historically the food bank distributes more than a million pounds of food per year. “This past year we distributed two and a half million pounds,” he said. “COVID brought a lot of new demands and brought on a lot of challenges, but so far we have been able to conquer all of them.”
Harrison said thanks to the help of many individuals and groups such as the Exchange Club of Selma, the food bank has been able to distribute food to Wilcox, Perry, Marengo and Dallas counties through some 50 agencies.
Cothran said she is working on grant applications for Regional Child Advocacy, and the money from the Exchange Club of Selma will probably go to help match grant funds. “The money that the Exchange Club gives to allows us to get even more money,” Cothran said. “So, it’s doubly helpful to us.”
Regional Child Advocacy interviews children when there has been an allegation of abuse and serves Bibb, Dallas, Hale, Perry and Wilcox counties.
Bearden said the George P. Evans Benefit Fund holds a fun day for children with special needs, Cahaba Center for Mental health for babies ages birth to 3 who have a delay, Dallas County Schools and Selma City Schools Special Education Programs and Easter Seals.
The first Exchange Club was established in Detroit, Mich. on March 27, 1911. The headquarters was later moved to Toledo, Ohio where it operates today. The Exchange Club of Selma was chartered on June 1, 1921.
The charter was signed by Horatio S. Earle, national president, and states, “The Exchange Club of Selma, Alabama is hereby declared to be a regularly constituted Exchange Club and is hereby accorded the privileges of a chartered Exchange Club … In witness wherefore, The National Exchange Club has issued this charter and has caused same to be signed by its duly authorized officers and its corporate seal to be hereto affixed, on this 1st day of June, anno domini 1921.”
Also, a resolution recently signed by Exchange Club National President Kathy Mize and Tracey Edwards, chief executive officer states, “The National Exchange Club and its National Board of Directors express sincere thanks and appreciation to the members of the Exchange Club of Selma for all the contributions made in the true spirit of Exchange toward the betterment of their community during these past 100 years.”
Current officers of the Exchange Club of Selma include President Johnson, Vice President Jewell Williamson and Secretary and Treasurer Norm Trotter.
Trotter said the club has met at a few locations over the years including the Broad Street YMCA on Broad Street, St. James Hotel, a home on Tremont Street, Church Street United Methodist Church, a location on Mulberry Road, White Force Cottage and currently the first and third Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Golden Ranch BBQ & Grill Restaurant.
Trotter said Cecil Williamson, who brought the prayer for the check presentation meeting on June 2, is the longest current member of the Exchange Club of Selma with 55 years this December.
According to information provided by Trotter, the Exchange Club of Selma has placed Freedom Shrines at local schools and the library; provided flags for events via “The Give A Kid A Flag To Wave” project. In addition, the Club has a tradition of honoring Law Enforcement Officer of the Year and Firefighter of the year.
In the area of community service, the Exchange Club of Selma has supported the Selma Dallas County Food Bank, United Way, Red Cross and its “beloved Book of Golden Deeds honoring a person each year in our community.”
The Exchange Club of Selma supported Selma legend Michael Johnson through football camps, health fairs and currently are supporting area youth through The George P. Evans Benefit Fund.
In addition, over the years, local youth have participated in the Alabama district written essay competition and have had state winners from Dallas County.
The Exchange Club of Selma was also known for many years for its barbecue events at Memorial Stadium which was a prime project for raising funds to support these different organizations.
Trotter said the club is currently seeking new members and, “We currently are selling quality sheets to all comers as a fund raiser. For sheet orders, call Thomasene Johnson at 334-419-3544.” The sheets are available in many colors in full, four pieces; twin, three pieces; and twin XL.
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