On a regular Thursday afternoon, Kalee Dutra, a Liberty High School senior, can be found volunteering at Old River Elementary for their annual Back-to-School Carnival. While many high school students may be taking their after school nap or working on homework, she is helping run one of their many carnival games by handing out prizes to little children. Dutra is part of Liberty’s Interact Club, which is a group of many different students who have one thing in common - their love of volunteering.
Interact is a community service organization under Rotary International. As an international club, Rotary International claims Interact to have over 400,000 members. At Liberty, it has over 40 members. Serving as President, Dutra oversees this student run organization.
“My favorite part about Interact is helping others who need it. In Interact, we get to help out the community in ways that have an actual impact.” tells Dutra, who additionally serves as a Delegate for Areas 4, 6, and 7 for the 2019-2020 school year. Rotary International divides all the Interact Clubs around the world into numerous smaller districts with a governing student council. Liberty High School's Interact resides in District 5160, the second largest Rotary District in the world, which covers Interact Clubs from Redding to San Ramon. Each district is then divided different areas. Each area has a delegate that represents the interests of the club in that area. “We bring everyone together through regional activities” notes Dutra.
Interact's volunteering focuses on the surrounding local area, in which they come when organizations request help. They help a variety of service projects which include helping at local school BBQs, sorting cans during can drives, and waiting tables during galas.
“My favorite part about [being an officer] is to oversee finances.” notes Kazuki Chu, a junior who serves as treasurer. His favorite part about being in the club has always been helping out the community with their various events, especially at Old River Elementary.
Interact hosts meetings in T-9 every other Thursday during lunch. Anybody can join, especially those who need to get their community service hours completed.
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