At its June 7th lunch meeting at Gaetano’s Ristorante, Rotary Club of Stoneham members hosted four students from the Stoneham High School (SHS) Interact Club and their Advisor, SHS teacher Kim O’Connor.
This year, the Stoneham High School Interact Club - which has about 20 students - with their Advisor Kim O’Connor, engaged in several service projects, including gathering and sending clothing to Ukraine, collecting over 200 new children’s books to deliver to children in local hospitals and soliciting and delivering hundreds of packages of Pop Tarts to be distributed to Boston’s homeless population. The group meets regularly prior to the beginning of their school day. Rotary Club of Stoneham member Craig Celli has been the club’s liaison to the SHS Interact Club.
Rotary Interact Clubs welcome young people ages 12-18 to develop leadership skills as they come to understand the importance of Service Above Self, a Rotary motto. Clubs are encouraged to organize at least two service projects a year, one focused on their school or community and the other promoting international understanding. Currently there are 14,911 Interact Clubs in 145 countries around the world.
During their meeting with the Rotary members, the young ladies shared an overview of the Interact Club’s projects over the past school year and said they hoped that the next school year would bring new members to their ranks.
Rotary Club of Stoneham is proud of the SHS Interact Club and supports their endeavors throughout the year. The Club also works to provide scholarships for local students, funds to help with polio vaccinations to children in third-world countries, assistance to local organizations that help senior citizens, veterans, children and families in need. Members are your neighbors, local business owners/employees, and organization representatives who want to work together to enhance life in Stoneham for everyone. Meetings are held at noon time at Gaetano’s Restaurant on Main Street every other Tuesday for lunch and conversation, as well as planning volunteer and fundraising opportunities.
Visit www.stonehamrotaryclub.com for more information.