The Cayce-West Columbia Lions Club took students from Riverbank Elementary School shopping, Saturday morning.

Chris Pricenor of the C-WC Lions has organized the trip to the West Columbia Walmart for 10 years. He said each student gets $150 to spend on clothes, and they get a little more to buy themselves something. The kids also got to eat at Hardees.

The students on the trip were recommended by the school’s staff. Some of them are dealing with challenging situations.

“These kids may not have even the basics. They just need clothes to wear to school,” he said. “And we think it’s important to help the children in our own backyard.”

“The Cayce-West Columbia Lions Club brings smiles to a lot of people by providing these Riverbank students with the Walmart shopping spree,” Riverbank Principal David Sims said. “The event is a blessing to all.”

Many teachers, and school staff, also go on the trip. Members of the Cayce Women’s Club and officers from the Lexington County Sheriffs Department were on hand, too, to help the kids shop.

The student shopping trip is very fulfilling for the members of the Lions Club.

“It’s my favorite service project the Cayce-West Columbia Lions Club does,” Charlene Frye of the Lion’s Club.

Frye also said each child received a box of food from Harvest Hope Food Bank along with some gifts from Belk Department Store.
Frye said the shopping trip was the late Lion Bill Mooneyhan’s favorite service project. Memorials in his honor that his friends and family made to the Club are funding the shopping trip this year.

“Bill would be very happy for that,” Pricenor said.