The Suffolk Exchange Club is celebrating its first anniversary today, the culmination of a year that saw the club do 45 service projects.

President Bob Moore said he and his wife, Margaret, established the local chapter of the National Exchange Club because they saw a need in the community.

Moore said the exchange club is a great way to get involved in the community because they serve in a lot of different areas, the same ones as the national club — Americanism, youth work, community service and child abuse prevention.

The club has done most of its work in the Driver area of the city, but Moore said the members do not limit their service to that area.

Suffolk Exchange Club’s biggest project of its first year was its involvement in the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk that took place in October.

Moore said many of the members felt a special attachment to the event because they have family members living with Alzheimer’s disease.

“There’s a connection,” he said. “This was a natural fit for our club.”

The club raised more money for the event than any other team, collecting more than $7,000.

Moore said the club is planning on participating again this year.

In addition to the walk, Suffolk Exchange regularly works with West Side Christian Church in Portsmouth for Angel Food Ministries, which provides families with food at discounted prices. Club members helped the church by taking orders and making deliveries for customers.

Moore said he thinks the toughest thing about establishing a new organization is gaining name recognition.

“I think getting ourselves known in the community may be our greatest challenge,” Moore said. “As we get known and as we grow, our service will expand.”

He added he hopes the club to continue to expand both in membership and resources so members can do more for the community and expand its service area.

One of the goals the club has for the next year is to establish a signature fundraiser, which it will hold every year.

Also, Moore said Suffolk Exchange wants to do more work in preventing child abuse.

“We have quite of bit of work to do on preventing child abuse in Suffolk,” he said.

This year, the club provided educational materials to other organizations about child abuse, but Moore said he wants to do more.

The Suffolk Exchange Club meets every third Monday of each month at Berea Christian Church.

For more information on the Suffolk Exchange Club, contact Bob Moore at rmmoore121@charter.net or 538-0607.