Excerpts from an article by Polly DiCesare, Interact Advisor for CREDO, the District Newsletter.

The Sauquoit Rotary Club was the first in the district to form an Interact Club. This was over twenty years ago, and it is still an active club in the Sauquoit Valley High School.

The Sauquoit Valley is a service club oriented community. The Middle School 6th, 7th, and 8th grades have the opportunity to become involved as Jr. Optimists through the local Optimist Club, Interact is a natural progression for a service club at the High School level. The Interact Club is open to students in the 9th to 12th grades. The students are very welcoming to new students at the beginning of each year and the grade level does not make a bit of difference with everyone working together.

The projects have varied over the years. Interact was involved with Sauquoit Rotary Club in building a Gazebo at the Town Park. The project took some time but is now a treasured landmark in the Town Park.

In the past year, Sauquoit Interact Students completed many community projects. Adopt -A-Highway Project is a four year commitment to keep clean and liter free a 1.5 mile stretch of Route 8 South between Chadwicks and Sauquoit. This is a favorite project that is shared with our Rotary Club. The year moved on with Bingo at area nursing homes, Christmas caroling at area group homes for developmentally disables adults.

The students participated in Foreign Exchange Student Weekend in June, which was sponsored by the Utica Rotary Club. They collect for UNICEF each Halloween and gather funds for food baskets at Easter, making all purchases and requesting items from local merchants. They even find a family in need through local churches and organizations. This project is an overwhelming success with enough food and holiday items to last a week.

A desire for more interactions with the younger students found the Interact students organizing an Easter Egg Hunt for the After School Program at Sauquoit Elementary School. In the Spring and Fall, members can be found planting flowers and bulbs at the Town Hall as part of a beautification project. Sauquoit Interact is a year round activity. During the summer, they participate in the Summer Literary Program at the Clayville Library, which provides tutors to the young students so that they may develop reading skills.

Interact members are busy, they work hard, are honor students and  involved with sports, theater, and many other school activities. The officers of Interact take control and with each year provide new and exciting ideas. As a result of an Interact club experience, one past president became very involved with the Lions Club while in college and held offices throughout college. The students with Interact experiences can and will provide a secure future for all of us. The students have so much to give and are so ready to help others. Interact is their way of accomplishing this during their High School years.