Rotary Honors Interact Clubs

 The Interact Service Clubs at Newtown High School, Newtown Middle School and Reed Intermediate School attended Newtown Rotary’s supper meeting October 22 to report on their plan of service projects for the coming school year. Rotarian Tony Salvatore, assistant principal at Reed, has organized the Interact Clubs in the three schools, and Rotarian Darrin Fodor is the Rotarian advisor for the three clubs.

The name is derived from INTERnational ACTion for all humanity. Each of the Interact Clubs gave a report on their plans for the current year and a synopsis of what was done the previous year.

Sixth grader Sarah Clements, president of the Reed Interact Club, stated that “they have loads of fun while helping out the community.” When there was a fire in the home of a Reed student, the club collected money to add to the staff’s donations, providing a $600 Target Gift Card to replace important items destroyed by the fire.

They are also doing trick-or-treat for UNICEF, holding another blood drive, and helping Rotary with the Dorothy Day Soup Kitchen by making more than 100 sandwiches for people to bring home for their evening meal.

NMS club advisor Bruce Moulthrop stated that the middle school’s Interact Club have quite a few plans for the coming year. The members are raising money from the sale of small stuffed animals, holding a flower and candy sale for Valentine’s Day, and conducting a food drive for the Faith Food Pantry at St John’s Church.

The club had originally planned a food drive for the Thanksgiving season, but it was tabled until February or March when supplies are low, donations are down, and new donations would be greatly appreciated.

Jessica Blake, club advisor at NHS, reported on the many service projects the club is planning. Locally, they plan on running a canned food drive, a toy drive for Waterbury children, Homeless Care Packages, assistance at Dorothy Day House, and a coat drive.

On the national level, they will write letters to soldiers in the states and internationally, and raise money for a Happy House for Haitians. A Happy House is a concrete structure the size of a 1½-car garage for $500, which the Haitians build themselves.

The objective of the clubs is to make life better for others. There are many Interact Clubs sponsored by local Rotary Clubs whose projects add up to a very large amount of service work.

 Newtown Rotary meets every Monday at 6:15 for a dinner meeting and those wishing to learn more about Rotary are invited to attend a meeting. However, meetings are sometimes held at local businesses. Interested parties can telephone Rotary President Dick Sturdevant, 740-2733, to verify the meeting place.