By Lisa Carolin
You may be aware of Chelsea High School’s Interact Club and its most recent goal of seeking donations to purchase a shelter box kit that contains items essential to families displaced by disaster.
The club’s goal is to raise $1,000 to purchase a complete ShelterBox to ship to a family in need.
CHS teacher Holly Reiser is in her third year as Interact Club advisor, and says the club, which is part of Rotary International, provides opportunities for students to participate in service projects that are both global and help the community.
“The purpose of Interact is to provide opportunity for young people to work together in a world fellowship dedicated to service and international understanding,” said Reiser. “Participation broadens a student’s understanding of the needs of those around them both locally and globally. By allowing students to participate in projects that have a positive impact, they feel empowered and gain knowledge of their ability to have an impact on their community. They learn to make change happen.”
There are close to 40 students in the CHS Interact Club, which is open to all students. Members are required to participate in at least two projects throughout the school year.
In addition to the current shelter box project, the CHS Interact Club has been involved in a variety of projects around the community.
“We participate in social events at Silver Maples, volunteer for bell ringing during the holidays, read to elementary students at North Creek during March is reading month, and help with litter clean up on the school grounds,” said Reiser. “We also support the Arbor Club in maintenance of the Alumni Arbor and are installing a Peace Pole in the Alumni Arbor this spring.”
In addition, the Interact Club collects funds for UNICEF at Halloween and works with Chelsea Rotary to fight polio globally. It is the Chelsea Rotary Club that is providing the funding for the aforementioned Peace Pole.
If you are interested in learning more about the club or in donating to purchase a shelter box, contact Reiser at [email protected] or drop a donation off at the high school and make it payable to Chelsea High School with Interact in the memo line.
