Nampa Kiwanis Honored with Service Award

Community: Members help support Boys & Girls Club, immunization efforts and other projects

By Adam Rush - Idaho Press-Tribune

NAMPA -- A boisterous Nampa Kiwanis Club cheered on Wednesday after receiving the Mayor's Annual Service Club Award 2005 during the Nampa Chamber of Commerce's monthly luncheon.

Nampa Mayor Tom Dale read off a long list of accomplishments before handing out the award. Among the work the club does is immunization efforts, funding high school Key Club activities and volunteering at community events.

"That's what we do in the Kiwanis Club, make change for the positive," said David Ferdinand, the club's president.

The club has 103 members, and much of their work involves giving youth opportunities to grow through Key Club at local high schools and the Circle K Club at Northwest Nazarene University .

"They want to be part of the community from the standpoint of giving back," Ferdinand said of Kiwanis members.

Dale praised the Kiwanis Club, and other service organizations, for their contributions.

"I need to say a sincere thank you to all of the service clubs," Dale said, and that groups are involved in projects like paying for high school graduation parties, purchasing glasses for those in need, raising money for the Meals on Wheels program and helping organizations like the Syringa House, Humane Society, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, and the Boys & Girls Club of Nampa.

"Can you imagine what a huge hole would be in our community without our service clubs?" Dale said. "It's just unimaginable."