Maitland Woody has an innate desire to serve, especially those in need.

With that in mind and with some added inspiration from north of the river, the Kingfisher Action Team was born.

“I’ve always had a big heart for people and wanted to help,” said Woody, who was the guest speaker at last Thursday’s Kingfisher Lions Club meeting.

“And who better to help than your neighbor?”

That desire surfaced last year as Woody had been pondering ways to provide help in the city - and county - she calls home.

The 2019 Kingfisher High School graduate returned to her hometown in 2024 to work as a multimedia journalist for an online media company.

As she began to flourish professionally, Woody was seeking ways to benefit her community even more.

Having grown up here - and through her work Woody knew of the many groups and organizations that provided different means of assistance.

Still, she felt there was more to be done, especially providing help to individuals and families facing challenges arising from major medical issues.

That led to a public meeting of other like-minded people in July.

At that meeting, Kingfi sher Action Team (KAT) became a reality as it was established and a board was elected.

Woody was voted its president.

Paula Leffingwell and Dawn Taylor were elected as co-vice presidents, Dana Terrell as the treasurer, Patty Stoudemire the secretary and Bradley Mayes and Tim McAnally as members at-large.

Terrell and McAnally joined Woody at Thursday’s meeting.

Also there was Jimmy Berkenbile of Hennessey.

In 2018, Berkenbile founded the Hennessey Community Action Team (CAT).

Since its inception, CAT has raised thousands of dollars for local families and disaster relief efforts, said Woody.

“Money isn’t the big deal,” Berkenbile said. “It’s bringing hope to someone who needs it.”

That could be providing heavy equipment to clear a road or a driveway or installing a handicap ramp at someone’s home.

Building a network of people and groups willing to help is what made it work, Berkenbile told the group.

“Whether Hennessey has it or Kingfisher has it,” Berkenbile said, “it’s working together to make that hope happen.”

Familiar with the landscape in Kingfisher, Woody knew she wanted KAT, at least initially, to have a stronger focus on fundraising efforts while still serving as a “hub” that also assists people in finding what they need from the groups already providing those services here.

After that July meeting, life happened.

Maitland Pickle got married, hence her current last name.

That pushed KAT’s first official meeting to September.

The group wasted no time in planning community fundraisers for local families who could use help.

KAT held a silent auction and dinner for the Zingg family as Emily Zingg was in the midst of an extremely high-risk pregnancy and raised $3,500 for them.

That was followed shortly after by a soccer tournament, silent auction and food sales for Misty Rojas, who is battling a number of medical issues.

KAT raised $2,000 for her medical expenses.

Matt Scott is a local fitness trainer who had a major medical event during the Christmas holi- day. KAT opened a support account for him and his family and it has received $350 in a short amount of time.

A fire to a house in Dover displaced members of the Dunigan family. KAT’s efforts were able to attain a dryer, refrigerator and a mattress for the family.

As Woody pointed out, efforts aren’t just focused in Kingfisher.

“Our name is Kingfisher Action Team, but we are Kingfisher County,” she said.

As KAT grows, Woody said evolving will take place. That will also come with guidance from Berkenbile, who said he’s providing Woody ample time to grow in her role - and as a newlywed - before he pushes her to expand her network.

Woody said KAT will hold its next meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26, at the Kingfisher Memorial Library Community Room.

It will continue to meet at that time and location on the last Monday of each month.

“These meetings are open to all community members who want to get involved, share ideas and help plan initiatives that benefit the Kingfisher community,” she said.