February,1995 |
Students Seize Chance to Help the
Community as Interact Volunteers
By Melissa Desautels
"I wanted to help improve
our community and make life for the people living here better," said
sophomore Denise Caraballo explaining why she joined the Interact Club.
Organized by Ms. Laura Chimini, the Interact Club is a service group which
conducts projects to help the young, the elderly, and the needy.
For the second year, Interact members threw a Halloween party for the young children in Bridgeport's after school Lighthouse program. At the party they had food, face painting, bag decorating, and a dance contest. "It was fun not only for the kids but for us as well," said Caraballo.
At Christmas time, members will again be asking for donations to Toys for Tots, a program which collects toys or money to buy toys for children whose families cannot afford them. Caraballo is hopeful the toy collection will bring joy to the children. "I feel people at Central should open up their hearts as well as their wallets and give to children who are less fortunate," she said.
The club plans to reprise several of last year's successful projects. The club participated in a service weekend with the students from Joel Barlow. During the weekend Interact members volunteered at the South End Community Center and Habitat for Humanity, a program which coordinates volunteers to build housing for the homeless.
Members also tutored children at John Winthrop School and baked muffins for the elderly residents of the Barnett Center.
"It made me happy to bake for them because lots of people tend to forget about the elderly. I think it really brightened up their day because it showed them that people do care," said Caraballo.
