Reed  Interact  Students  Are  Planning  A  Blood Drive

By Martha Coville

Reed Intermediate School student Brooke Hadgraft, a fifth grader, is secretary of the Interact Club, which participates in and organizes community service projects. The club motto is “service above self.”

“When my brother Michael went to Reed,” she said, “he did the Interact Club, and I liked the community service aspect of it.”

Annie Beier, in the sixth grade, is treasurer for the group. This is her second year in Interact. “I came back because I was voted treasurer at the end of last year,” she said. Other officers include Sarah Clements, club president, and vice president Katie Wolf.

The students are more than halfway through the school year. Annie recapped service projects they participated in last semester, and Brooke previewed what the group has planned this spring. They are particularly excited about the Blood Drive Reed School will be hosting on Saturday, March 28.

“We donated money to a girl whose house burned down earlier this year,” she said. “We gave her $500. We also gave money to Mrs King. She goes to Ghana. We gave her $500.”

Reed School teacher Karen King, to whom the Interact club donated money, has worked to improve the lives of children in the Buduburam refugee camp in Ghana. More than 35,000 Liberian refugees live in the camp, which was established in 1990. Ms King just returned from Buduburam, where she helped install a water purifier. She is also collecting money to pay for students’ school supplies. Students in the camp must pay for their own textbooks and other supplies. If they cannot afford them, they cannot go to school.

“Last December,” Annie said, “we also did the Pancake Breakfast with the Rotary Club. And in January, we took orders for grinders for the Super Bowl,” as a fundraiser.

Annie and Brooke have different responsibilities. “My job is to take attendance,” Brooke said, and keep track of the 30 or so members of the club.

“She keeps track of things,” Annie said. “Yeah,” said Brooke, “like, ideas people have, and who makes announcements.”

As treasurer, Annie helps keep track of the money the club raises. “And sometimes,” she said, “Brooke and I make announcements about activities over the school intercom.”

At the Interact Club’s March 14 meeting, members were busy making posters to advertise upcoming events. Many students sported the number “3.14,” or the Greek letter “pi,” drawn in colorful face paint on their cheeks or foreheads. “Today is March 14th,” Brooke said, “so we’re celebrating the number ‘¶.’”

Sixth graders Jenny Indelicato and Makenzie Lapp were coloring in pennies they had drawn on a sheet of poster board. Brooke and Annie explained that the club is collecting pennies for the Leukemia Society’s Pennies for Patients charity.

Dominick Schnedler, a fifth grader, made a poster for another program supporting cancer patients. On “Hat Day,” which he wrote in large orange bubble letters across the top of his poster, students who donate a dollar to the Sunshine Kids charity will be allowed to wear a baseball hat to school. Hats are usually forbidden by the school dress code. Sunshine Kids, said Ashley and Brooke, provides emotional support and organizes activities for children with cancer.

Although they spoke with enthusiasm about all their coming projects, Ashley and Brooke were most enthused about the March 29 Red Cross Blood Drive. Annie said that club members would not actually be donating blood. “You have to be 17 to give blood. Kids can’t give blood.”

Instead, Brooke said, students in the Interact club will be providing support for donors. “Pretty much what we do is there’s a table and we’ll be giving out stickers and games to donors.” Annie added, “Club members have to bring homemade food,” for donors to snack on after giving blood.

The blood drive will take place on Saturday, March 29, at the Reed School, between 8 am and 1 pm. Donors should call 800-GIVE-LIFE to make an appointment.