Halloween in December, Service all Year Long

Photo by John Armato

Interact Club members: front row from left, Kishan Patel, Naomi Parson, Jordon Go, Aaliyah Bray, Faith Nicholes; second from from left, Diego Jamie, Jumee Harris and Yasheen Fleton; and taking up the whole back row is Alex Stewart.

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by the Pottstown School District.

The students of Pottstown High School's Interact club may be a small group but they do big things when it comes to serving the community. 

Sponsored by teachers Diane Fox and Diane Shoffstall and supported by the Pottstown Rotary Club

they have completed projects to benefit young and old. 

During the month of October, students collected Halloween treats from Redner's Market to create 25 Halloween goodie bags for children at the Salvation Army and surprised 80 students in the preschool early education program (PEAK ) with some spooky treats. 

Club members wanted to show thanks and appreciation to our country's veterans at the Spring City center by hand making holiday cards for them. 

With cold weather coming during the next few months club members donated 35 pairs of gloves for children on the Walking School Bus.

They also organized a coat drive for the Salvation Army and Pottstown Cluster of Churches to keep adults and children warm this winter. 

The dedicated service of our Interact Club students and the Pottstown Rotary gives us all another reason to say Proud to be from Pottstown.

Pottstown High's Interact Club Springs Into Action

Submitted Photos

The Pottstown High School Interact Club undertook a coat drive to keep people warm in winter.

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by the Pottstown School District.

The Pottstown High School Interact Club believes in letting their actions speak for themselves. 

The club has a long list of community and school service projects that demonstrate their commitment to others. 

The club collected treats to give out at Halloween.

Members conducted fundraising which enabled them to provide over 300 bags of Halloween treats for the Salvation Army, Senior Center, Operation Backpack and PEAK. 

They provided three dozen gloves and hats to elementary students who are part of the Walking School Bus Program. 

The club's donation of 90 items of hats,gloves,scarves and coats helped the Salvation Army keep people warm during the Winter. 

They supported fellow students in need with bags toiletries collected during the Holidays. 

More than 75 Veterans had a brighter Holiday after receiving a personal card from club members. 

On Valentine's Day more than 100 high school students received a kindness note form the club. 

Zoe Wallace and Abby Richter man the information booth at
Sunnybrook  during the Pottstown Pottsgrove Border Battle
Wrestling Match.

Yearly the members support both the Pottstown CARES and PEAK Day of The Child events with a informational booth and activities for children. 

The club has taken on the mission of raising awareness and calling for action in the fight against human trafficking. 

The students set up fundraising events and informational tables at community events and in school. 

Teachers Diane Fox and Diane Shoffstall sponsor the club, which is a service organization for high school students who desire to volunteer their time to aid school and community. 

It seems there is no end to the Interact Club's activities.

Interact is an international organization sponsored by the Pottstown Rotary Club and this month the students will make a presentation to the Rotary Club. 

The word Interact stands for international action. The club which numbers 26 members has an impressive list of projects on which they have spent more than 300 hours working. 

The club's officers include; Co Chairs Courteney Parry and Zoe Wallace, Maggie Onate Vice chair, Jakhaya Beckem Treasurer and Abby Richter Historian. 

"Our students have shown a commitment to making a positive change in the world and a degree of maturity beyond their age. With young people like this taking leadership roles, our future is bright," said Fox and Shoffstall.  

Park Improvements, Interact Style

Blogger's Note: More news of Pottstown students out in the world making a difference, courtesy of the usual source -- John Armato.

Members of the Pottstown Rotary Club joined hands with their student counterparts from the Pottstown High School Interact Club to make a difference at the Riverfront Park Pavilion.

Young and old worked together to help beautify the pavilion and surrounding area by cleaning up, laying mulch, planting flowers, and placing birdhouses in trees throughout the area.

Rotarian Dr. Dick Whittaker said, “I am proud to be working side-by-side with my fellow Rotarians and the students from our Interact Club to help make a difference in our community by showing what our partnership can do to help make a difference in our communities. I would like to give a special thank you to Hank Saylor for his donation of the mulch and the use of his equipment to help our efforts.”

Interact students helping in the day’s activities included: Kris Horsey, Imani Graham, Annbria Speed, and Bishop Corney.

Our students are learning the value of giving back to the community and seeing first hand what their efforts can do to help beautify an area that is used by so many people said Marilyn Bainbridge Interact Club sponsor.

Rotarians taking part in the program included: Charles Koenig and his wife Sandy, Steve Smith, Lori Musson, Patti Seigel, Bob Thomas, Bill and Beverly Wellen, Brad Musson, Jen Pennypacker, Maryann and Jim Thompson, Hank Saylor, and Gerry Myers. 

Interact is a Rotary International service club for young people ages 14-18. 

Since its earliest days, Rotary has been committed to helping children in need. 

But in 1960, the organization took a new approach to youth service. 

Recognizing the untapped potential of young men and women the Rotary International President urged Rotary clubs around the world to find ways to encourage service among youth, foster their active interest in the community, and offer opportunities for them to develop as leaders. Interact clubs are sponsored by individual Rotary Clubs which provide support and guidance. 

Interact means International action. Interact club members, make new friends, improve their community, develop leadership skills, and make a difference in the world.

Asking for a Little Warmth

Sometimes, one warm coat can make all the difference.

The Pottstown High School Interact Club is sponsoring a coat drive for the needy and a book drive for the read-y.

OK, that last one was pretty bad. We're getting a little punchy these days over in the Digital Notebook's editorial complex.

Anyway, as Marilyn Bainbridge, who teaches childcare at the high school and is the club's advisor notes, "on a cold day there is nothing better than bundling up in a warm coat.

So if you've got an old coat in the your closet that doesn't fit anymore, or has fallen out of your fashion sense, you can drop if off in the lobby of Franklin Elementary School until Nov. 1.

The coats will be provided to the Pottstown Cluster Outreach Center and the Salvation Army.

And while you're at it, cleaning out your closets that is, why not take some of those children's books you don't need any more, specifically the ones for ages birth through the fourth grade, and drop them off as well.

Because apparently, the club is also conducting a children's book drive.