SIDNEY — Kathy Lindsey, executive director of New Choices, was the featured speaker at the July 8 meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Sidney.

New Choices was incorporated in 1983 as a nonprofit agency dedicated to the needs of victims of domestic violence and family abuse, Lindsey told the group. It currently operates a six-bedroom shelter. It also maintains a 24-hour crisis hotline.

The organization’s mission is to provide emergency shelter, crisis intervention, education and advocacy for adults and children who are victims of domestic violence; to assist victims through the criminal justice process; to raise awareness in the community through education; to provide assistance through personal education and training; and to help victims break the cycle of domestic violence and regain control of their lives.

Over the past year, approximately 80 women and children have spent time in the shelter. In addition, another 240 people have received assistance. Between 700 and 1,000 calls to the hotline have been received. There are three, full-time and six, part-time staff members. New Choices has a 10-member board.

New Choices is in the midst of a capital campaign to raise $600,000. So far, about $416,000 has been raised. The shelter is more than 100 years old and is in need of electrical, plumbing and HVAC upgrades.

Prior to Lindsey’s remarks, President John Coffield called the meeting to order. The invocation was given by Mike Tangeman and the group was led in song by Ralph Bornhorst and accompanied by Diane Karas on the piano. Rick Lunsford led the Fun & Games activity, five trivia questions about the history of the U.S.

Coffield read a news clip from the Sidney Daily News “Out of the Past” about the Kiwanis Kite Kontest which was at the Shelby County Fairgrounds on May 2, 1928. The Sidney Kiwanis will celebrate its 95th anniversary later this year.

This article was submitted by the Kiwanis Club of Sidney.