By Kaitlin Candelaria
The Hoover Service Club is celebrating 40 years of improving the community.
Started by Flora Mae Pike in May 1975, the club is dedicated to working tirelessly to raise money for others in the Hoover community. Throughout its 40 years of volunteering and fundraising, the group has been able to contribute more than $484,000 in donations and awards.
Recipients of the group’s kindness include families with special needs children, Hoover City Schools, Hoover Fire and Rescue, and the Hoover Police Department. The club also has contributed to scholarship programs for students in the city.
In 2014, the club was able to contribute more than $23,000 to the community while simultaneously granting more than $16,000 in scholarships to students at Spain Park and Hoover high schools. There also is a Flora Mae Pike Community Service Award, which is awarded each year to an outstanding Hoover volunteer.
The Hoover City Council and Mayor Gary Ivey recognized the club for its service at a meeting in September.
“The Hoover Service club members are civic-minded women who give their time and talents to help meet the needs in the community,” said Jennifer Gregory, publicity chair.
The club also recently hosted its annual fashion show. On Nov. 12, members of the club partnered with Steinmart representatives Debbie Rogers and Darlene Real to create fashionable looks that they then modeled for audience members at their lunch meeting at the Hoover Country Club.
The club also was able to present a check to “Hoover Helps,” a local organization created by Hoover residents Greg and Donna Bishop to provide food over the weekends to Hoover city schools students who are living with food insecurity. For more information on Hoover Helps, visit www.hooverhelps.org.
The club is also gearing up for its annual gala. The Hearts and Harmony gala will take place Feb. 19 at the Hyatt Regency-The Wynfrey Hotel.
In addition to its regularly scheduled events and fundraisers, the Hoover Service Club also regularly collects canned goods for charities and food banks.
For more information on the Hoover Service Club, visit www.hooverserviceclub.com.
