The Kiwanis Club of Swainsboro held its weekly meeting Tuesday night, March 17, at the Emanuel County Library at 6:30 p.m., with an evening meal prepared by Heather Williamson. With President Dianna Wedincamp presiding, they had 13 in attendance including guests, Amelia Daughtry, Destiny Wilcher and Sophia Tang. Bobbie Daughtry won the drawing for the Velvet Mousse cake and Jeff Palmer won the Domino’s pizza. President Dianna introduced the speaker for the evening, Sophia Tang, 2026 Miss Southeast Georgia. The Miss Southeast Georgia competition is part of the Miss Georgia Scholarship Competition. Sophia explained her community service initiative, “How Art Heals: Advocating for Art Therapy and Art in a Therapeutic Context” and explained the accreditations for Art Therapists after obtaining a master’s degree in art therapy. She explained how Art Therapy helps avoid depression, treats autism spectrum disorders, depressive mood changes, and Alzheimer’s disease. Sophia has utilized her program on how art heals in various elementary schools and has worked in the “Art is Out” program in Atlanta. She is a cell and molecular biology student at Augusta University and has been accepted to the Dental College of Georgia. The Miss Georgia pageant will take place in June, and Sophia will start dental school soon after that. Her talent for the pageant is classical piano and oil painting is her art interest. She also enjoys traveling.
Deana Patrick gave an update on some Franklin Memorial Library events, including a Book Sale April 7 – 10, and the Summer Reading Program and asked the Kiwanis to donate a gift card for a drawing during the program. The Kiwanis Club will have a White Elephant Sale on May 2 starting at 8 a.m. in the parking lot of the Primitive Baptist Church, 242 W. Main Street, Swainsboro. If you have items to donate, take them to the church on March 26 from 2 to 7 p.m. and you can use masking tape to price the items.
