25th Anniversary Pavilion Dedication at Peters Brook Park

The Kiwanis Club of Hooksett celebrated its 25th anniversary by giving a lasting gift to the community: a new pavilion at Peters Brook Park, near the Merrimack River in the heart of town. Built entirely by volunteers and funded through donations from local businesses and community partners, the pavilion was dedicated at a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by Hooksett Kiwanis and the local chamber of commerce.

April Kendall, president of the Friends of Hooksett Youth Athletics, reflected on the significance of the gift: “This field has become the cornerstone of youth athletics in Hooksett — a place where friendships are formed, skills are developed, and lifelong memories are created.” The shade structure and additional seating are a welcome addition for families enjoying the park’s soccer and lacrosse fields, especially during the warm summer months.

SLP Year-End Celebration

Our Student Leadership Program (SLP) wrapped up another wonderful year with a celebration honoring the young leaders who participated in the program. We are proud of each student’s growth, commitment, and the positive impact they have made in their schools and community.

2026 Scholarship Award Recipients

We are proud to congratulate this year’s Hooksett Kiwanis scholarship recipients — two outstanding young people who exemplify the values of academic excellence, leadership, and service.

Jack Welch has distinguished himself through outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and service to others. A top-ranked student at Pinkerton Academy, Jack balanced a rigorous course load with leadership roles as Class Treasurer, Varsity Soccer Captain, Varsity Tennis Captain, and co-founder of his school’s Engineering Club. Beyond the classroom, Jack dedicated more than 110 hours as a certified puppy sitter and caretaker for Guiding Eyes for the Blind, helping prepare future guide dogs for individuals with visual impairments. He also shared his talents as an SAT Math Tutor and youth basketball camp counselor. This fall, Jack will attend Tufts University to pursue engineering, where he hopes to continue using his skills and passion for problem-solving to make a meaningful impact. We are proud to recognize Jack’s commitment to excellence, leadership, and service.

Abigail Aumann has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to service, leadership, and community impact throughout her high school years. From founding the Sister to Sister Project — which has provided more than 500 feminine hygiene products and 200 blessing bags to women experiencing homelessness across New Hampshire — to leading volunteer initiatives and serving countless local organizations, Abigail exemplifies the Kiwanis spirit of service. A former Hooksett Kiwanis Youth Volunteer of the Year, Abigail will attend Stonehill College this fall to study Health Science on a pre-Physician Assistant track, with the goal of specializing in pediatric oncology and helping children and families facing difficult medical challenges. We are proud to support Abigail as she continues her journey of service, leadership, and compassion.

These outstanding students represent the very best of our community. We wish them every success as they pursue their next chapter.

Hooksett Kiwanis Bike Rodeo & Safety Day

Despite the rainy weather, our Bike Safety Event was a tremendous success! We welcomed several new families, distributed multiple bicycle helmets, and offered a variety of bike safety activities and bike-decorating fun for children of all ages.

A special thank you to our generous partners who made this event possible: Handz Bicycle Sales & Service, Extra Care Auto Repair of Hooksett & Manchester, Above & Beyond Childcare, the Hooksett Police Department (who provided car seat safety checks), the Hooksett Fire Department, and our dedicated Kiwanis volunteers.

Safety, smiles, and community spirit were on full display throughout the day!

Beautify Hooksett Day

This year’s Beautify Hooksett Day was another tremendous success, with more than 22 registered teams and over 150 volunteers participating throughout the community. Did you notice the blue cleanup bags along roadsides throughout town? Many of those locations weren’t even on our official schedule — suggesting that even more residents joined the effort than the 150+ who registered.

Together, volunteers cleaned roadsides throughout Hooksett, as well as the Riverwalk and Heads Pond Trails, Donati Park, and other public spaces. The dedication and community pride on display made a visible difference across our town.

Thank you to everyone who contributed their time and energy to help keep Hooksett beautiful!

Pancake Breakfast — A Record-Breaking Success!

This year’s Pancake Breakfast was our largest and most successful event to date — attendance more than doubled compared to last year, making it a truly remarkable community gathering.

Our dedicated volunteers worked tirelessly to ensure everything ran smoothly. From setup to cleanup, the teamwork and enthusiasm of our members made the event a memorable occasion for everyone who attended.

A special thank you to the Pancake Breakfast Committee for their months of planning and coordination. Their dedication was instrumental in making this an outstanding success. We also extend our heartfelt appreciation to all of our sponsors and community partners whose generosity helped make it possible.

If you’re interested in joining next year’s Pancake Breakfast Committee, we would love to have your help — new ideas and additional volunteers are always welcome.