At least a couple times a month, we typically receive a photo to print in the newspaper of a service organization in town that has donated money or volunteered their time to benefit others in the community.

Whether it’s one of the Kiwanis clubs, the Rotary Club, the Lions clubs, the Aktion Club, the newly started Key Club or some other organization, we thank you.

Service clubs provide a great opportunity to connect with others who want to better the community and who share common interests.

Though each club has a different focus, many of the clubs donate funds to things such as scholarships, literacy projects and community projects that benefit children, families and others in need. They volunteer their time for the fundraisers that make these efforts possible.

In addition to raising money for efforts, they take part in various service projects, including highway cleanups, glasses collections, bell-ringing for the Salvation Army, reading books to children in schools, among many others.

And many help people on various national and international levels, too.

If you’d like to find a way to get involved in the community, we encourage you to join one of Albert Lea’s great service clubs. Many of the clubs meet weekly, and some meet once a month or twice a month.

You won’t regret it, and you’ll find a sense of pride in helping others.