The Kiwanis Club of Holly Lake Ranch, Big Sandy headed to the East Texas Food Bank (ETFB) in Tyler March 30th to turn a “5th Monday” into a day of significant impact. Volunteers Christina Drake, John Taylor, JoAnn Powell, Michael Laurel, Kathleen Laurel, Ben Zetsche, Terri Zetsche, Laura Smith, and Dianne Robinson rolled up their sleeves to tackle food insecurity head-on. The team successfully bagged 500 pounds of rice, which will now be distributed to food pantries across the East Texas region. They also assembled 220 nutritious food bags specifically for the Backpack Program. These kits are a lifeline for K-12 students who face food insecurity at home, ensuring they have reliable access to meals when they’re not at school. This service project is part of Kiwanis’s ongoing commitment to the community; the club returns to the ETFB every 5th Monday of the year to support their mission of fighting hunger. A huge thank you to our volunteers for spending their Monday making a tangible difference for our neighbors!
Kiwanis Chili Cook-Off
The community gathered at Holly Hall Saturday, February 21st, for the annual Kiwanis Chili Cook-off and Fundraiser. With 20 contestants vying for the top spot, the event showcased a remarkable variety of recipes that ranged from tongue-tingling spicy to family-friendly mild. The competition featured something for everyone, including chilis with and without beans, traditional beef chilis, a standout chicken chili and Tina Beall’s beloved annual tradition: a comforting potato soup specifically for those who can’t eat chili. Beyond the chili, the Kiwanis Club ensured no guest went thirsty or hungry. Attendees enjoyed free water and lemonade to cool down between tastings, followed by delicious cake for dessert to round out the meal. The chilis were judged blind to ensure that every entry is evaluated solely on its own merits, free from any personal bias or favoritism. After much deliberation by the judges and attendees, the 2026 champions were crowned:
Crystal Burns | 1st Place | Beans CategoryCara Kraft | 2nd Place | Beans CategoryCKI-Jarvis Christian University | 1st Place | No BeansJohn White | 2nd Place | No Beans CategoryTrish LaPointe | 50/50 Raffle | $151 Cash Prize
Trish LaPointe from the Holly Lake Ranch Dog Shelter won $151 in prize money in the 50/50 Raffle.
The Kiwanis Club of Holly Lake Ranch, Big Sandy extends a heartfelt thanks to all the chefs, volunteers, and community members who made this year’s fundraiser a sizzling success!
Kiwanis Helps Texas Ramp Project
Kiwanis of Holly Lake Ranch, Big Sandy played Santa Claus for the Texas Ramp Project this year. Jeff Mulkey from the Texas Ramp Project told Kiwanis, “We built ramp number 38 for the year this morning and our old saw that was on its last leg finally died.” Kiwanis came to the rescue with a donation of a miter saw, table saw and a lithium battery pack valued at $699.
Kiwanis members JoAnn Powell and Rose Upton presented the donations to Jeff Mulkey on December 23, 2025, just in time for Christmas! Kiwanis is proud to partner with the Texas Ramp Project, which stays busy all year long building wheelchair ramps for low-income older adults and people with disabilities. The ramps are built entirely with volunteer labor which helps reduce the cost of the ramps.
Kiwanis Christmas for Kids
The spirit of the season was alive Friday, November 28th, 2025, at Holly Hall as the community gathered for the beloved annual Kiwanis Christmas for Kids event. The air was filled with cheer as families enjoyed an evening packed with holiday magic and community warmth.
The highlight of the evening for the youngsters was the arrival of Santa Claus. The jolly old elf made his grand entrance aboard a fire truck with sirens and lights adding to the excitement.
After he made his way into Holly Hall, eager children lined up with their wish lists and to have a photo taken on Santa’s lap.
The Holly Carolers regaled the crowd with the sounds of classic Christmas songs. Kids enjoyed vibrant face painting and visited Santa’s Toy Shop. Attendees enjoyed delicious homemade cookies and warm hot chocolate.
Our thanks to organizers Laura Smith and JoAnn Powell and the many volunteers who worked tirelessly to stage the event that officially kicks off the Christmas holiday season at Holly Lake Ranch!
Kiwanis Helps Hawkins Helping Hand
Kiwanis of Holly Lake Ranch, Big Sandy stepped up to offer support to Hawkins Helping Hand which provides emergency short-term help to families in need. Executive Director Jeff Karlson visited our club on Wednesday, November 12th, and explained that the government shutdown has put a strain on the services they provide. He said some families won’t receive a Thanksgiving or Christmas food box because they need the food now as a result of losing government benefits during the shutdown.
This is why Kiwanis stepped forward to help by providing cake kits to go in food boxes so families can enjoy a treat with their holiday meals. Club members assembled more than 40 cake kits using donated items. Kiwanis also organized a food drive and collected much needed items. Volunteers Gayle & Keith Mullinax, JoAnn Powell and Laura Smith delivered the food to Hawkins Helping Hand on Thursday. Our club also presented Hawkins Helping Hand with a donation of $1,500.
Hawkins Helping Hand also said they needed children’s pajamas and socks, so volunteers Cheri Leingang, JoAnn Powell and Laura Smith went shopping! They delivered the requested items to the organization on Thursday, November 20th. They also delivered several baskets of food items collected at the Fashion and Gossip Parlor.
2025 Holly Lake Ranch Fall Festival
Kansas
Kiwanis volunteers manned the Hula Hoop Game in the Kids Zone at the 2025 Holly Lake Ranch Fall Festival Saturday, October 11th.
It was fun watching the kids try their hand with the hula hoop. A little girl named Kansas made it look too easy as she was able to keep the hoop rotating endlessly.
Kiwanis volunteers were Dianne Robinson, Rick Robinson, JoAnn Powell and Michael Laurel. Also helping were CKI members from Jarvis Christian University: Kareem Robertson, Bryce Hunt, Ari Stewart and Jazmynne Verner.
A few Dads tried their hand with the hula hoop which was comical. There was also a hula hoop toss where the kids would toss a bean bag into the hoop. Everyone was a winner as all participants walked away with a book as a prize and there were also some tasty snacks. The kids and the grownups all had a great time.
Kiwanis Flag Folding Event
Volunteers from the Holly Lake Ranch community got together Wednesday, October 1st, at the Volunteer Fire Department Hall to fold retired flags. Folks from Kiwanis, the Big Sandy Lions Club, AMBUCS, DAR, and other community organizations helped out. The group managed to fold more than 400 flags in less than two hours. Some of the flags were from the Kiwanis flag program that have gotten too worn and tattered to be displayed.
Others were from residents who put their worn out flags in the flag drop box at the Holly Lake VFD. All of the folded flags will be disposed of in a dignified manner at a flag retirement ceremony in November. Hundreds of flags were retired last year in a ceremony next to the RV storage facility on FM 49. Details on this year’s flag retirement ceremony are coming soon.
4th of July Hot Dog Sales Event
Parents, grandparents and kids started off their 4th of July celebration at Holly Lake Ranch with a golf cart parade that ended with a hot dog lunch provided by Kiwanis. The golf cart parade started at Lake Greenbriar on the east side then proceeded all the way to Holly Hall on the west side where Kiwanians were waiting with hot dogs, chips and drinks. The hall filled quickly with hungry parade watchers who scarfed down the delicious hot dogs. It was a great turnout and preliminary estimates show that we raised a lot of money that will go to support Kiwanis scholarships and other charitable projects that help families in our community. Our thanks go out to all those who made this event a huge success:
Brookshire’s for providing the hot dogs and buns
Those who donated soft drinks, water, chips and condiments
All of the volunteers including those who worked the grill and in the kitchen, setup and cleanup, manning beverage and condiments tables, ticket sales and many other tasks behind the scenes
To all who attended this event and enjoyed the delicious hot dogs. We appreciate you!
2025 Kids Fishing Competition
The Hole 12 pond at Holly Lake Ranch was filled with eager young anglers for the annual Kids Fishing Competition on June 17th. Nineteen youngsters competed for trophies and other prizes on a beautiful morning. It didn’t take long for the kids to start pulling bass out of the pond. A total of 21 black bass were caught and transferred to Lake Greenbriar. Volunteers, parents and grandparents helped the kids with their lures and gave instruction on how to use their rods and reels. Thanks to the 20 volunteers who helped at the event and to these sponsors for their support:
Kiwanis of Holly Lake Ranch, Big Sandy for the trophies and donuts.
The Lake Group for organizing the event and providing lures for the kids and for the rod and reel prize for the first fish caught.
Origin Bank for giving tackle boxes and sunglasses to each contestant and providing cold water.
Kids Fishing Competition Winners
1st Place – Sebastion Vickery
2nd Place – Lilly Monroe
3rd Place – Evan Lang
First Fish Caught – Charlie Wilson, winner of a new rod and reel
Kiwanis 2025 Scholarships
Kiwanis of Holly Lake Ranch, Big Sandy awarded 2025 scholarships on Wednesday, May 14th.
Nine graduating seniors and their families gathered at Holly Hall for a very special scholarship luncheon. Scholarship recipients included students from Hawkins, Harmony and Big Sandy High Schools. Kiwanis scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate outstanding academic performance, and a commitment to community service and leadership. Scholarships are made possible through fundraisers like the Kiwanis Golf Tournament, 4th of July Hot Dog sales, Chili Cookoff and donations from generous sponsors. Congratulations to this year’s scholarship recipients!
2025 Scholarship Winners
Hawkins High School – Kylie Adams & Kalynn Ellison
Harmony High School – Maecy Toland & Konnor Ellison
Big Sandy High School – Ryleigh Allen, T.J. Shipman, Kayden Smith, Emily Thibodeaux & Lubryson Ross
Hawkins ISD Cardboard Boat Race
After a rain delay of several days, freshman students from Hawkins High School gathered at Holly Lake Monday, May 12th for the annual Cardboard Boat Races.
Kiwanis volunteers Wayne Gorman, Michael Laurel, Sharon Lindquist, JoAnn Powell, Laura Smith, and Dianne Robinson served the kids hot dogs prepared by the Holly Lake VFD before the races began.
The object of the race was to sail boats constructed of only cardboard and duct tape across the lake. Only a few were successful. It was fun to watch the students try to paddle their creations on their maiden voyages.
The team of Shelton and Jersey won the race with a time of 1:36 to pilot their boat across the lake. Unfortunately, some of the students sank trying to launch their boats to sound of the “Theme from Titanic” blaring on the loudspeaker. It was all in good fun and Kiwanis looks forward to helping with the event again next year.
Contact us to request more information on our Kiwanis Club events and projects.
CLUB PROJECTS & EVENTS
Kiwanis Helps East Texas Food Bank
The Kiwanis Club of Holly Lake Ranch, Big Sandy headed to the East Texas Food Bank (ETFB) in Tyler March 30th to turn a “5th Monday” into a day of significant impact. Volunteers Christina Drake, John Taylor, JoAnn Powell, Michael Laurel, Kathleen Laurel, Ben Zetsche, Terri Zetsche, Laura Smith, and Dianne Robinson rolled up their sleeves to tackle food insecurity head-on.
The team successfully bagged 500 pounds of rice, which will now be distributed to food pantries across the East Texas region. They also assembled 220 nutritious food bags specifically for the Backpack Program. These kits are a lifeline for K-12 students who face food insecurity at home, ensuring they have reliable access to meals when they’re not at school.
This service project is part of Kiwanis’s ongoing commitment to the community; the club returns to the ETFB every 5th Monday of the year to support their mission of fighting hunger. A huge thank you to our volunteers for spending their Monday making a tangible difference for our neighbors!
Kiwanis Chili Cook-Off
The community gathered at Holly Hall Saturday, February 21st, for the annual Kiwanis Chili Cook-off and Fundraiser. With 20 contestants vying for the top spot, the event showcased a remarkable variety of recipes that ranged from tongue-tingling spicy to family-friendly mild. The competition featured something for everyone, including chilis with and without beans, traditional beef chilis, a standout chicken chili and Tina Beall’s beloved annual tradition: a comforting potato soup specifically for those who can’t eat chili. Beyond the chili, the Kiwanis Club ensured no guest went thirsty or hungry. Attendees enjoyed free water and lemonade to cool down between tastings, followed by delicious cake for dessert to round out the meal.
The chilis were judged blind to ensure that every entry is evaluated solely on its own merits, free from any personal bias or favoritism. After much deliberation by the judges and attendees, the 2026 champions were crowned:
Trish LaPointe from the Holly Lake Ranch Dog Shelter won $151 in prize money in the 50/50 Raffle.
The Kiwanis Club of Holly Lake Ranch, Big Sandy extends a heartfelt thanks to all the chefs, volunteers, and community members who made this year’s fundraiser a sizzling success!
Kiwanis Helps Texas Ramp Project
Kiwanis of Holly Lake Ranch, Big Sandy played Santa Claus for the Texas Ramp Project this year. Jeff Mulkey from the Texas Ramp Project told Kiwanis, “We built ramp number 38 for the year this morning and our old saw that was on its last leg finally died.” Kiwanis came to the rescue with a donation of a miter saw, table saw and a lithium battery pack valued at $699.
Kiwanis members JoAnn Powell and Rose Upton presented the donations to Jeff Mulkey on December 23, 2025, just in time for Christmas! Kiwanis is proud to partner with the Texas Ramp Project, which stays busy all year long building wheelchair ramps for low-income older adults and people with disabilities. The ramps are built entirely with volunteer labor which helps reduce the cost of the ramps.
Kiwanis Christmas for Kids
The spirit of the season was alive Friday, November 28th, 2025, at Holly Hall as the community gathered for the beloved annual Kiwanis Christmas for Kids event. The air was filled with cheer as families enjoyed an evening packed with holiday magic and community warmth.
The highlight of the evening for the youngsters was the arrival of Santa Claus. The jolly old elf made his grand entrance aboard a fire truck with sirens and lights adding to the excitement.
After he made his way into Holly Hall, eager children lined up with their wish lists and to have a photo taken on Santa’s lap.
The Holly Carolers regaled the crowd with the sounds of classic Christmas songs. Kids enjoyed vibrant face painting and visited Santa’s Toy Shop. Attendees enjoyed delicious homemade cookies and warm hot chocolate.
Our thanks to organizers Laura Smith and JoAnn Powell and the many volunteers who worked tirelessly to stage the event that officially kicks off the Christmas holiday season at Holly Lake Ranch!
Kiwanis Helps Hawkins Helping Hand
Kiwanis of Holly Lake Ranch, Big Sandy stepped up to offer support to Hawkins Helping Hand which provides emergency short-term help to families in need. Executive Director Jeff Karlson visited our club on Wednesday, November 12th, and explained that the government shutdown has put a strain on the services they provide. He said some families won’t receive a Thanksgiving or Christmas food box because they need the food now as a result of losing government benefits during the shutdown.
This is why Kiwanis stepped forward to help by providing cake kits to go in food boxes so families can enjoy a treat with their holiday meals. Club members assembled more than 40 cake kits using donated items. Kiwanis also organized a food drive and collected much needed items. Volunteers Gayle & Keith Mullinax, JoAnn Powell and Laura Smith delivered the food to Hawkins Helping Hand on Thursday. Our club also presented Hawkins Helping Hand with a donation of $1,500.
Hawkins Helping Hand also said they needed children’s pajamas and socks, so volunteers Cheri Leingang, JoAnn Powell and Laura Smith went shopping! They delivered the requested items to the organization on Thursday, November 20th. They also delivered several baskets of food items collected at the Fashion and Gossip Parlor.
2025 Holly Lake Ranch Fall Festival
Kiwanis volunteers manned the Hula Hoop Game in the Kids Zone at the 2025 Holly Lake Ranch Fall Festival Saturday, October 11th.
It was fun watching the kids try their hand with the hula hoop. A little girl named Kansas made it look too easy as she was able to keep the hoop rotating endlessly.
Kiwanis volunteers were Dianne Robinson, Rick Robinson, JoAnn Powell and Michael Laurel. Also helping were CKI members from Jarvis Christian University: Kareem Robertson, Bryce Hunt, Ari Stewart and Jazmynne Verner.
A few Dads tried their hand with the hula hoop which was comical. There was also a hula hoop toss where the kids would toss a bean bag into the hoop. Everyone was a winner as all participants walked away with a book as a prize and there were also some tasty snacks. The kids and the grownups all had a great time.
Kiwanis Flag Folding Event
Volunteers from the Holly Lake Ranch community got together Wednesday, October 1st, at the Volunteer Fire Department Hall to fold retired flags. Folks from Kiwanis, the Big Sandy Lions Club, AMBUCS, DAR, and other community organizations helped out. The group managed to fold more than 400 flags in less than two hours. Some of the flags were from the Kiwanis flag program that have gotten too worn and tattered to be displayed.
Others were from residents who put their worn out flags in the flag drop box at the Holly Lake VFD. All of the folded flags will be disposed of in a dignified manner at a flag retirement ceremony in November. Hundreds of flags were retired last year in a ceremony next to the RV storage facility on FM 49. Details on this year’s flag retirement ceremony are coming soon.
4th of July Hot Dog Sales Event
Parents, grandparents and kids started off their 4th of July celebration at Holly Lake Ranch with a golf cart parade that ended with a hot dog lunch provided by Kiwanis. The golf cart parade started at Lake Greenbriar on the east side then proceeded all the way to Holly Hall on the west side where Kiwanians were waiting with hot dogs, chips and drinks. The hall filled quickly with hungry parade watchers who scarfed down the delicious hot dogs. It was a great turnout and preliminary estimates show that we raised a lot of money that will go to support Kiwanis scholarships and other charitable projects that help families in our community. Our thanks go out to all those who made this event a huge success:
2025 Kids Fishing Competition
The Hole 12 pond at Holly Lake Ranch was filled with eager young anglers for the annual Kids Fishing Competition on June 17th. Nineteen youngsters competed for trophies and other prizes on a beautiful morning. It didn’t take long for the kids to start pulling bass out of the pond. A total of 21 black bass were caught and transferred to Lake Greenbriar. Volunteers, parents and grandparents helped the kids with their lures and gave instruction on how to use their rods and reels. Thanks to the 20 volunteers who helped at the event and to these sponsors for their support:
Kids Fishing Competition Winners
Kiwanis 2025 Scholarships
Kiwanis of Holly Lake Ranch, Big Sandy awarded 2025 scholarships on Wednesday, May 14th.
Nine graduating seniors and their families gathered at Holly Hall for a very special scholarship luncheon. Scholarship recipients included students from Hawkins, Harmony and Big Sandy High Schools. Kiwanis scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate outstanding academic performance, and a commitment to community service and leadership. Scholarships are made possible through fundraisers like the Kiwanis Golf Tournament, 4th of July Hot Dog sales, Chili Cookoff and donations from generous sponsors. Congratulations to this year’s scholarship recipients!
2025 Scholarship Winners
Hawkins ISD Cardboard Boat Race
After a rain delay of several days, freshman students from Hawkins High School gathered at Holly Lake Monday, May 12th for the annual Cardboard Boat Races.
Kiwanis volunteers Wayne Gorman, Michael Laurel, Sharon Lindquist, JoAnn Powell, Laura Smith, and Dianne Robinson served the kids hot dogs prepared by the Holly Lake VFD before the races began.
The object of the race was to sail boats constructed of only cardboard and duct tape across the lake. Only a few were successful. It was fun to watch the students try to paddle their creations on their maiden voyages.
The team of Shelton and Jersey won the race with a time of 1:36 to pilot their boat across the lake. Unfortunately, some of the students sank trying to launch their boats to sound of the “Theme from Titanic” blaring on the loudspeaker. It was all in good fun and Kiwanis looks forward to helping with the event again next year.
Contact us to request more information on our Kiwanis Club events and projects.
Click here to make an online payment or donation
Kiwanis International
http://www.kiwanis.org
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www.txokkiwanis.org
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facebook.com/texasoklahomakiwanis/