A unique club with a mission to serve sums up exactly what the Cloverdale Lions are all about and they will be serving families with school starting back up this week with its Back to School Haircuts initiative on Aug. 6.
"We are, collectively, the youngest club in the state and most of our members are women. Our mission is to serve, and we are always looking for new ways to make a positive impact in our community. Back To School Haircuts started when most of us were starting to emerge from Covid. The club had the idea to pay for student’s haircuts to save the parents a few dollars right when school starts and students need supplies, clothes, lunches, and books," Cloverdale Lions Club President Dakota Lanham told The Putnam County Post.
This year's event will be held Aug. 6 from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Cloverdale Barbershop and haircuts were by appointment only.
"Brian Smith, owner of Cloverdale Barbershop and friend, agreed to help me with the project. It was a trial-and-error event with scheduling, but we feel that we have a much better grasp on the event. This year, we are beyond excited to offer haircuts to girls heading back to school. Last year we had many girls show up to the event and had to be turned away. Lexi Dickison volunteered this year to cut hair at the barbershop in our event," Lanham said.
Lanham said the opportunity to give back and creating a positive impact throughout the county is something he is "very passionate" about.
"Being married to a Cloverdale kindergarten teacher, working at First National Bank, serving as the President of the Cloverdale Lions, and being a member of several organizations in Putnam County, I hear stories of the obstacles that arise at the beginning of every school year. It is a stressful time for parents and children, so giving a free haircut is a unique opportunity to shorten the checklist for back to school. Nothing helps a kiddo’s confidence more than a fresh, clean haircut before making their first impression for the school year," Lanham admitted.
The Lions are about head into its busy season of the year, as they will be providing vision screenings to all students in grades third, fifth and eighth across the county shortly after the beginning of school.
"It is always an event that takes several volunteers to make it as efficient as possible. After our vision screenings, we move to preparing for Cloverween during the last Saturday in September. We host a food booth and our annual Blood Drive through Versiti. We look to provide additional vision screenings for children during this year’s event. Following Cloverween, we switch to our Annual Appreciation Dinner where we recognize individuals throughout Cloverdale that have made significant impacts to our community. Last year’s Civic Award recipient was Pam Gilman. We are currently accepting recommendations for this year’s winner," Lanham said.
Finally, the Lions are co-hosting a raffle through Cloverdale Community Dollars for Scholars with the prize being a Traeger Grill valued at $600. The tickets will be sold at upcoming Cloverdale home football games and during Cloverween, as well as other events and locations that are yet to be determined. Tickets are $5 each.
"We look to fund our two existing Lions scholarships that are administered through Dollars for Scholars with the proceeds of the raffle," Lanham said.
For more information on the Cloverdale Lions Club, contact Lanham at 765-346-8396 or dlanham1364@gmail.com.
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