Posted on Jun 17, 2022

Our Rotary Club of Parker chartered the first elementary school Interact Club in the Rotary world at Gold Rush Elementary in the Douglas County School District in 2019.  Students in grades K-5 meet twice a month before school; they work on meaningful projects that develop leadership skills and help them meet new friends. 

The members practice Rotary's motto of Service Above Self as they work on local and international projects.  Locally, they have collected and stored non-perishable food items that students do not eat in the cafeteria.  Parker Task Force volunteers pick up items each Friday (5,000 items to date).   In 2021-22 students developed 25 bags for the Sweet Dreams in a Bag organization. They prepared bags for infants and toddlers: quilted blanket, flannel blanket, crib sheet, Gold book, teddy bear, toothbrushes, and supportive notes signed by the kids.  See the final results in the photo to the left!

For their international project in 2019-2020, students developed a “Kids Kits” project with the help of Project C.U.R.E. – 84 bags of personal and medical items were shipped to Cote d’Ivorie.  The fundraising event they developed raised $1,600 to help with the project.

These Young Rotarians are demonstrating helpfulness and respect for others in many ways – thanks to the sponsorship of the Rotary Club of Parker!

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