Kiwanis Club of Harker Heights

08/29/2026

08/29/2026

Speaker: Stephanie O'Brien, Parks & Rec Special Events Manager
Vendor Registration is now open for all special events.
Important Steps:
1. Set up a CivicRec account if you do not already have one.
2. Complete a Special Events Vendor application. (Your application is not submitted until you receive a receipt. A completed application is required prior to the approval to sign up for specific events.)
3. Email additional requirements to [email protected] (examples: Business Certificate, photos, and other certifications and permits that apply for both food and non-food vendors)
4. Once approved, vendors will be informed by an approval email to sign up for one or all of the upcoming events available. (Make sure you choose the specific events you would like to be a vendor for. The event's vendors list will be compiled from that specific events registration.

08/14/2026

Speaker: Bobby Whitson, Bell County Commissioner, Pct 2
Topic: Bell County Commissioner Duties - The Statutory
duties and responsibilities of county officials in Texas are
numerous. County government's principal focus is on the
judicial system, health and social service delivery, law
enforcement, and road construction. The Commissioners
Court is the governing body of the county. The Texas
Constitution specifies that the court consists of a county
judge and four county commissioners elected by the
qualified voters of individual commissioners' precincts.
Many state administrative responsibilities rest with the
court. The Commissioners Court serves as both the
legislative and executive branches of county government
and has budgetary authority over all county departments,
including those headed by other elected officials. One of
the biggest topics currently in Bell County is the data
center to be built in the Temple area. The Governor has put
a pause on new data centers in Texas. Data centers must
disclose their plans to: pay their own way, provide their
own power, reuse their own water, reduce the cost of
electricity & avoid disturbing neighborhoods. Much
research has been done by the commissioner to make the
best decisions for the county. They weigh ever negative
and positive scenario about having a data center in the
county. Rowan Digital says it will work with the community.
Commissioners will keep on top of the project. Watch the
news for more updates.

07/19/2026

Kiwanis Club of Harker Heights participated in the Kern Park Bash today. The park has under gone a fantastic upgrade. New splash pad, community garden, playground equipment and more. Our booth represented our club, our American Flag Program and our commitment to serve the children of our community. Our service project was gift bags for the kids at Foster Love in Belton.
We made up 24 bags with the Kiwanis Coloring Books. We had the kids and parents who stopped by our booth to put the added items we provided into the gift bag. (color pencils, #2 pencils, eraser, pencil sharpener, small activity books, composition notebooks, pens and Kiwanis postcards with an uplifting message written to them. They really loved helping and that the bags would maybe bring a smile to a child's face who is having the worst day of their life.

07/15/2026

Speaker: Cyd West
Topic: Friends of the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery
The cemetery opened in 2005 after a decade of work and planning.
They expect to need 20,000 wreaths this Christmas. Wreaths are
prepared on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, laid on the Saturday
after Thanksgiving each year, retrieval is the 2nd Saturday in
January. Laying holiday wreaths began in 2007, when the Wreaths
Across America organization sent six wreaths to our cemetery and to every other veteran cemetery in the United States, to be laid in
honor of each military service branch and POW/MIA. An individual
believed that there should be a wreath laid at each grave, and within three days, she had gathered enough wreaths and volunteers to make it happen. (Jean Shine and Cyd West) Shine purchased 400 wreaths at Garden Ridge in Round Rock for the 396 graves, gathered enough volunteers and started the amazing program. Other veterans cemeteries have contacted them to see how to start their own program. The program is totally supported by volunteers and community donations. It is a 501 (c)3 organization so totally deductible on your income tax. Donate online at wreathsforvets.org or mail to Friends of Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery, P. O. Box 2790, Harker Heights, TX 76548

We Pledge to NEVER FORGET the sacrifices of our military and their families

06/23/2026

Speaker: Andrea Womack
Topic: Fellowship of Christian Athletes - FCA is a nondenominational Christian sports ministry that focuses on
Coaches, Campus, Camp and Community ministry. She is
in charge of the Heart of Texas West from Nolanville to
Lometa and includes Ft Hood. It was started in 1954. It
was to have Jesus the influence for coaches and athletes.
They have had one mission for over 60 years. They are
supported by donations and volunteers who want to be
involved in every aspect of the ministry. There are
Huddle Leaders, Character Coaches & Board Members.
There are many additional ways people get involved with
FCA. One specific way is to become an Event Volunteer by
serving at Camp, Fields of Faith, Banquet, Golf Outing or
Retreat. FCA wants to join you on your journey to invest
your gifts and talents into the lives of others. You are
(Investing in a Life) Many of the schools in the area
welcome them to their campus to let students make a
choice to visit with them.

06/23/2026

Speaker: Bruce Raymond
Topic: Tricounty Toy Run of Central Texas - Bell, Coryell and
Lampasas. 2026 is the 34 year. It is a 501(c)3 organization. The
TriCounty Toy Run of Central Texas is one of the state's largest
holiday charity rides, gathering hundreds of motorcyclists to deliver
toys to impoverished children across three counties. 20 local
charities benefit from the event and serve about 3500 children.
Key Event Details
The Mission: Riders and car clubs caravan to fill an 18-wheeler
with new, unwrapped toys for less fortunate families during the
holidays.
The Route: The roughly 57-mile ride typically begins at the Frank
Mayborn Center in Temple, Texas, and ends at destinations in
Lampasas, Texas.
Participation: Riders pay a participation/registration fee
(historically around $25) or bring an equivalent new, unwrapped
toy.
Safety: The event is heavily supported by local police, fire, and
emergency agencies that safely es**rt the massive biker convoy
along their route.
How to Get Involved & Give Back
Donate: You can drop off new, unopened gifts. Details and
instructions are available directly on the TriCounty Toy Run of
Central Texas Website.
Participate/Volunteer: The organization holds monthly planning
meetings throughout the year. You can check their Official
page to find out when the next meeting will be held at
locations like Lil Tex Restaurant in Copperas Cove, TX

06/09/2026

🎉H H Kiwanis member Lisa Youngblood is doing programs at the Nolanville Smart Museum now.

Sensational Saturday at the Nolanville SMART Museum was the perfect way to kick off Summer 2026! ☀️
Families enjoyed a day filled with fun and discovery, including a scavenger hunt, musical instrument exploration, games, virtual reality experiences, crafts, and so much more!
A special thank you to Aronka's 5 Star Creations for donating delicious ice cream to help everyone stay cool, and to Texas A&M University-Central Texas for providing fun activities and tasty toppings for our guests.
Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the day such a success. We love creating opportunities for learning, exploration, and family fun right here in Nolanville!

06/09/2026

Alexander Kim was the HHHS Key Club President. We are really proud of him. Other honored students, Madison Cho was the Key Club Secretary and Israel Valdes-Munoz was the Key Club Vice President.

The City of Harker Heights was proud to sponsor a table at this year's Killeen ISD Starmakers Academic Recognition Banquet, an event dedicated to celebrating academic excellence and the educators who help shape future leaders.
City Manager David Mitchell and his wife were honored to host Harker Heights High School senior Alexander Kim, his parents, and his chosen educator, Suzanne Neff, an AP Physics teacher at Harker Heights High School.
As one of Harker Heights High School's top graduating students, Alexander selected Ms. Neff as the educator who had the greatest impact on his academic journey. In his own words, Ms. Neff taught him "how to think, rather than seeing what to memorize," encouraging him to take what he learned in the classroom and apply it to the practical world. He described her influence as a "paradigm shift" in his life.
The Starmakers Banquet serves as a powerful reminder that behind every successful student is a teacher who inspires, challenges, and believes in them. We congratulate Alexander on his outstanding achievements and thank Ms. Neff for the lasting difference she has made in her students' lives.
Congratulations to all this year's Harker Heights High School Starmakers and the educators they chose to honor. Your hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence make our community proud.

06/09/2026

Great way to start the summer, sloppy joes , chips and the wife’s home made brownies . The people really enjoyed the meal . Thanks to the volunteers that help serve Saturday