By Joan F. Simoneau, Community Reporter
Marlborough – A group of students at Hildreth School in Marlborough are organizing at least two major service projects this year – one that benefits their city and another that encourages international understanding. They are members of the Interact Club who receive guidance from individual Rotary Clubs while governing and supporting their own group.
“These youths, ages 12-18, want to connect with others in the community and school and have fun while carrying out projects and learning about the world,” said Toby Peterson, director of the club. “They participated in a number of events this year, including selling candy canes to make money to send care packages to our troops serving overseas.”
Why did Amanda Cutting join the Interact Club? “I wanted to help out in the community and I love that we are helping out students in other countries with the book drive,” she said, referring to the Marlborough Rotary Club’s project – collecting books for students from kindergarten through sixth grade.
“These books will help to build libraries in the Philippines,” said Peterson. “Our students have collected over 100 books to date and continue to seek donations. “
Mike Zarby enjoys participating in club activities which this year included volunteering at the local food pantry, working with the local Rotary Club to prepare for the annual Turkey Shoot, helping with a school food drive and conducting various cleanup days.
“As a senior I wanted to be a part of something that makes a difference and gives back,” Zarby said.
Club members are currently organizing a recycling program within Hildreth School to alleviate the large number of plastic bottles and paper waste accumulation each week. They are working in conjunction with the environmental science classes to develop a solution to the ongoing problem. As spring arrives they will conduct their annual spring cleaning day when they clean the school grounds and plant spring flowers around the building.
“This year is off to a great start and we are looking forward to many more successful projects here at Hildreth,” Peterson noted.
