The Kirkland Kiwanis Club is beginning a focus series on its Key and Builder’s clubs throughout the community.

These are Kiwanis-sponsored clubs within local high schools and middle schools. Student members perform service acts in the community, such as park clean up, organizing food drives, fundraising and providing volunteer support to Kiwanis Club projects.

Students learn leadership and social skills by running meetings, planning projects and holding elected leadership positions within their club, and at the district and international levels.

The Key Club at International Community School currently has more than 40 members. The clubs president, Rachel Roberts, is 17 years old and will be a senior next year. She has been in Key Club for three years, having joined in ninth grade.

“My mom and dad were always really involved in community service,” said Roberts. “Your parent’s values become your own.”

Roberts has been active for many years in volunteer work and was recently nominated to the Kirkland Cultural Arts Council.

Working closely with Roberts is vice president Aishwarya Nirmal and several other board members serving as secretary, treasurer and public relations officer.

This past school year, with the assistance of their advisors Paul Plank and Ralph Villavicencio, this club conducted a food drive and participated in the Turkey Trot to benefit Hopelink, volunteered at Food Life Line, organized meals at Tent City, held a talent show at International Community School to raise funds for UNICEF, volunteered at Meow Cat Rescue and assisted Kiwanis with its Christmas tree lot, Pancake Breakfast, July 4th parade, and other Kiwanis-based activities.

This group of young people have learned at an early age what it means to “give back” to their community. To learn more about the Kiwanis Key or Builder’s clubs, visit Kirkland.kiwanis.org.