The St. Louis High School Rotary Interact has been hard at work the past few months!
Rotary Interact is a service-based club that participates in a multitude of activities that benefit the community. This club is fairly new at SLHS, and is currently in the process of becoming an official chapter of Rotary Interact. Even though the club is new, members of Rotary Interact have already had a great impact on the community.
Rotary Interact has participated in many activities already this year such as: blanket making at Schnepps, the Purple Pinky fundraiser, helping with numerous activities at Nikkari elementary school, as well as starting a Pitch-er This Committee.
“I think our Interact club has made a great impact on our community already. I have heard great feedback from Schnepp’s about blanket making,” stated founding president of SLHS Rotary Interact Curtis Bradshaw. Volunteering for these activities not only has a positive effect on the community, but also the volunteers. “Many of our members’ leadership skills and teamwork skills have been improving, as was my original intent of starting the club, as well as connecting students to members of our community,” added Bradshaw.
The Purple Pinky fundraiser has also been run by Rotary Interact at a few sporting events this year. The fundraiser costs only one dollar, and provides a polio vaccine for someone in need. Once someone donates, they get their pinky nail painted purple. There is a reason behind this, though. In countries that supply polio vaccines, patients get their pinkies painted purple to prevent an accidental double dose.
Rotary Interact members have also volunteered for events at Nikkari Elementary School. Club members partnered with the wrestling team to provide assistance at the Nikkari Christmas party. “Getting involved in our Primary Schools’ classrooms has been a big goal of our Interact club,” said Bradshaw.
The Pitch-er This Committee is also a big project for the rotary club. The committee is made up of Bethany Bowerman, Kaya Munoz, Rebekah Ross, and Chairperson Elly Starry. This group is applying for United Way’s ‘Pitch-er This’ grant program to create a safe space in the school. This grant would be used for items such as sensory lighting, comfortable seating, and noise-making machinery. The committee will be presenting their pitch Feb. 24, at Central Michigan University.
“I would encourage everyone to join Rotary Interact because it is a very fun and rewarding group of people. We get to meet leaders from other schools and help all kinds (and ages) of people in our community,” said Bradshaw. Rotary club advisor Mrs. Godwin also encourages students to join Rotary Interact. In fact, she said, “Rotary is a group that students can continue to be a part of even after they graduate. There are Rotary groups in the community and at certain colleges that students can join after they graduate high school.” Rotary club is a great way for students to pitch in and help out their community while having some fun along the way. Godwin added, “If you want to help make a difference in the school and community, Rotary Interact is a great group to join to help achieve that.”
