Mayor speaks on helping others

Playground equipment and providing clothes, toys and food for the needy are some of the areas needing help in Kilgore.

Mayor Joe T. Parker spoke to the Kilgore Oilpatch Breakfast Kiwanis Club about what he thinks the organization can do to help the community.

“We need playground equipment in several areas,” he said. “The new Harris Street Park could use more equipment and the skateboarding area needs expanding.”

Parker said groups like Kiwanis and other civic organizations always find themselves with more projects then they can take on at times.

“At Christmas and Thanksgiving, baskets for needy families re always needed,” he said. “Helping Hands needs to keep a plentiful supply of food, also.”

Parker said if he could wish for one thing for Kilgore today it would be a place for older children and teens, ages 15 to 18.

“We need a place where they can meet and dance and play games,” he said. “We need to keep them entertained and out of trouble.”

Parker praised the work of civic organizations and told the Kiwanis members he was glad to see the club operating.

“Kilgore really needs people like you help our young people learn leadership skills and looking to you for positive role models,” he said.

Parker also talked about Tuesday’s joint meeting between the city commission and Kilgore Economic Development Corporation.

“We need people like you to get involved in city business,” he said. “You need to come to our meetings and be on committees to help out in that area also.”

Members of the club will be selling “fun sun glasses” again this Friday and Saturday. They will be located near the stage at the World’s Riches Acre and near Santa’s Workshop.

Members also helped six members of the Kilgore High School Key Club attend a leadership camp, Weekend of a Lifetime, last weekend.

Members are planning to attend the Caroling at the Lake at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15, at Lake Cherokee. The annual event is sponsored by the Greater Lakeport Kiwanis Club.