The Ringgold Kiwanis club was established in 1976. The club originally met in the J&L Restaurant, a small dining establishment in Ringgold. In 1979, the club moved its meetings to Aunt Effie's Restaurant, which was owned and operated by then Kiwanian Bill Trimby. When he sold the restaurant, the club moved to PT Bailey's restaurant for a short time and then to the Country Bumpkin Restaurant. This served as the club meeting place until the restaurant burned around 1995. The club has since met in the Fellowship hall of the Ringgold First Baptist Church.

The club struggled during its early years to keep membership to charter strength. In 1978, the club was at a low point and during a September meeting, the club voted to surrender the charter. A new member, Wendell Roden pleaded with the membership to allow time for him, new to the community, to help work on increasing the membership. There was a strong nucleus that developed during those days and is still strong today.