By Nicholas Brown
Staff Writer

At a recent Kiwanis Club of Hooksett meeting, volunteers from throughout the community gathered to reflect on the year's progress, and, in doing so, helped raise money to make more progress possible.

The mission of the Kiwanis Club nationwide involves providing opportunities for young people, and Ashley Nelson, a member of the Hooksett Kiwanis- sponsored Key Club at West High School, suggested that mission is being accomplished.

"I'm really thankful for being able to participate," Nelson said of a recent Key Leader workshop in North Conway. "We got to learn so many skills that we can all take back to our own lives."

Kiwanian Nicholas Hunt- Bull, a contact for the Circle K Club - a college-level offshoot of Kiwanis - said he was speaking at the event only because he was available, as two other Circle K representatives with were busy actively volunteering in the community.

"I think that's a good thing," he said.

Hunt-Bull told the group of several Circle K activities in the works, including visiting area hospitals, school tutoring and holiday carol singing.

Kiwanian Jennifer White updated the crowd on the club's latest incarnation, the Cawley Builder's Club. The club is composed of sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders from throughout Hooksett and was formed last year at the middle school.

"Their initial reception to the Builder's Club was not so good," White said of the school. "But we've done a 360 at Cawley."

White said the group raised $2,000 for the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and has been actively raising money to support the American Heart Association.

"They are learning really early what to do for others and what to do for Kiwanis," said White.

Kiwanian Heather Shumway, director of the Hooksett Public Library, thanked club members for their donations.

"We have a beautiful new rug in the children's room that children are climbing all over," she said.

Shumway also thanked club members for their friendship. "It has been such a joy to be here with this group of people," she said.

Hooksett Heritage Commission Chairman Kathleen Northrup thanked the club for its support in reactivating the commission two years ago.

"Without the generosity of groups like Kiwanis, we would not be in the position we are," she said.

Northrup said the commission has been keeping busy over the last year, cataloguing the town's barns, compiling an oral history of Hooksett, producing two historical films, and continuing to try to restore the historic Head's Chapel.

"Our ultimate goal is to make it available for public use," said Northrup.

Also during the evening, the recently crowned Miss Hooksett, Cara Silva, was inducted into the club with some encouragement from Miss Hooksett 2005, Jennifer Saucier.

A high school algebra teacher, Silva said she hopes to become the next Miss New Hampshire, "so you can all say you knew me when," she joked.

The Hooksett Kiwanis Club, which passed its five-year anniversary in September, has 46 regular members, and new members are always welcome.

For more information on the club or any of their regular fundraising events, visit hooksett kiwanis.org.