Robertson High School Interact Club, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Niles (Fremont) began World Interact Week with a Nacho, Popcorn, and Cotton Candy Party supporting Bay Area Community Services for Marginal and Homeless Adults. Niles Rotarians in an effort to Keep Calm and Serve On (club motto), Serve Humanity (Rotary International motto) while Attracting the Young, Having Fun and Getting More DONE (District motto) donated funds to the Robertson Interactors and attended the event. Robertson Interactors have been working on their DDS Project for months. It began in early September with a visit to the Bay Area Community Services Wellness Center in Fremont to meet with the center clients to assess their basic needs for the upcoming winter. The clients come from various places, some are homeless (campers) and some are marginal adults. The kids, with the assistance of the Peer Counselor, held a meeting and requested the clients to fill out wish lists on small post its to be deposited in to a wish box created by the students.
The wish box was taken back to the school where as a part of their Interact club and Leadership Class they worked with their teacher and Interact advisor Paul Barry to develop a plan for purchase of the most needed items.
The students decided to create Winter Relief packets that would include reusable rain ponchos, head lamps and two pair of socks (good socks as requested by the clients). They were also able to obtain donations of toiletries from the traveling Rotarians, blanket, pillows and water bottles.
The Wellness Center had planned a Halloween Party for its clients on October 31, 2016. The Interactors along with Niles Rotarians were invited to attend. The interactors volunteered to create and facilitate a list of games, assist with set up and attend the party with the distribution of the Winter Relief Packets ending the day.
Two of the goals of World Interact Week are to engage Interactors and to inspire creativity. Sixteen Interact students attended the event. They set up, cooked a meal, made a green frothy drink, served the clients and yes ran a host of games that had everyone smiling, laughing and cheering. This club has certainly accomplished the World Interact goals as they stepped out of their comfort zone to obtain additional donations to purchase sleeping bags or blankets for this challenged group of individuals. In their enthusiasm to meet the needs of the clients at the BACS Wellness Center, the students scoured the community for additional discounts or donations. They hit the jackpot at Kohl’s in Fremont; Kohl’s staff not only attended the event but will be making a donation that will allow the students to complete their mission and ensure that clients will be a little warmer and drier in the next few months. Congratulations Robertson High School Interactors for a job well done with heart and caring.
Article Submitted by Rose Evernden-Andrade, Niles Rotary President-Elect
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