HUNTSVILLE — The Huntsville Public Library Friends, Inc. is thrilled to announce that the Huntsville Kiwanis Club has funded the beautiful outdoor plaza area which will stretch between the two new wings of the library under the shade of the old live oak tree.  This area will contain the “forever bricks” set within an entire brick plaza and will be a lovely gathering place for adults and a center for children’s activities as well.  The plaza will be seen by everyone entering the library and the Community Room from the parking lot.  The Friends intend to use the Kiwanis Club’s donation to furnish the plaza with appropriate chairs and tables and other items to make this plaza a welcoming part of the expanded and renovated library.

The Huntsville Kiwanis Club is part of Kiwanis International and has been a part of Huntsville for 73 years.  According to Wikipedia the name “Kiwanis” comes from an Otchipew American Indian expression “Nunc Kee-wanis” which means “we trade”, “we share our talents”, “we make a noise”, “we meet”.  The original motto of Kiwanis International was “we build” but the current motto is “serving the children of the world.”

Kiwanis International describes itself as “volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time.”  Two of the guidelines of Kiwanis International are: “To give primacy to the human and spiritual rather than to the material values of life” and “To encourage the daily living of the Golden rule in all human relationships.”

Lou DeVore is the President of the Huntsville Kiwanis Club and Bryan Matthys is the Vice President of the Club.  The Huntsville Kiwanis Club has been a supporter of the Huntsville Public Library for many years.  The Club has sponsored the “Reading is Fundamental” program at the library for 23 years and has sponsored the library’s Summer Reading program for 18 years.  In addition to its support for our public library, the Huntsville Kiwanis Club provides scholarships for both high school and college students through several of its programs.  Both the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts have benefitted from support from the Huntsville Kiwanis Club.  

The Huntsville Kiwanis Club raises money for its charitable work through several different activities including its Gospel Show in April, its Magic Show in October and the Pancake Supper in January.  Funding for the Plaza donation will come from the monthly Bingo Hall in Montgomery County operated by the Huntsville Kiwanis Club.

All of the sponsorships and donations made by Kiwanis are making a difference in the lives of children in our Huntsville community.  The Friends offer a heartfelt “thank you” to the Huntsville Kiwanis Club.

For those in the community who have not yet made a donation to the library, please remember that every gift is appreciated and is tax deductible.

 Local businesses are being contacted by Friends’ volunteers presently to make a donation of $100 so that their names may be placed on a wall plaque to be displayed permanently in the library.  

The businesses that I have contacted this week have been most gracious in their reception of my solicitation.  All donations should be made payable to the Huntsville Public Library Friends, Inc. and mailed or delivered to 1216 14th Street, Huntsville, TX 77340.



Nancy Franklin is media coordinator of the Huntsville Public Library Friends, Inc.