Sedona Red Rock High School’s Interact Club, led by club advisor Teresa Lamparter, had its first meeting of the fall semester on Tuesday, Sept. 5, when the students put together inspirational cards to accompany Meals on Wheels Packages. The club followed up with a visit to Sedona Winds Assisted Living Community on Sept. 10 to play bingo with the residents. Last year, the club logged over 400 hours of community service.

“We love Interact Club, which is like Rotary [Club] for the high schoolers,” Jennette Bill, chairwoman of the Rotary Youth Program for the Rotary Club of Sedona Village, which sponsors the club, said. “It’s so active here under [Lamparter]. They did so many projects last year, and she’s getting them lined up for this year, too. That’s outreach into the community through service,  be it Sedona Winds, thecity Parks and Recreation programs, the Elks Lodge [or] Meals on Wheels. It’s just amazing. She does [cards for Meals on Wheels] for every holiday [and] that goes out specially to the people who are homebound with their meals, which is really neat.”

“‘Interact’ is a service club for youth ages 14-18,” the Rotary Club’s website states. “The club will benefit from sponsorship by the local Rotary club, which will provide support and guidance. This program offers fun, meaningful service activities while providing a chance to develop leadership skills and meet new friends.”

The SRRHS Interact Club is active throughout the school year and assists with the Scorpion Booster Club’s Casino Night, which will return on Saturday, Feb. 10; Rotary’s chili cook-off; playing games with veterans at the Elks Lodge; and putting on a Diaper Drive for the House of Ruth, to name a few of their activities.

“The kids really came through [for the House of Ruth],” Lamparter said. “We did it right before the Christmas break, we had it set up [in] the cafeteria and then, by the end, we had quite a good amount of diapers. So we brought them over to the house. I brought them over that Friday before break.”

“I’m super-fond of volunteering for all events,” returning club member Lily Williams said. “Sedona Winds was my favorite event that we did last year, just from talking with all the elders, [learning] what they did or the job they had.”

“St. Andrew’s Church, they’re serving a [weekly] dinner for those less fortunate in the community. We’ll help set up and clean up,” Rotary member and retired West Sedona School and Sedona Red Rock High School Principal Russ Snider said, encouraging the students to sign up. “It is very rewarding to see a variety of people coming in there. They are hungry and it’s right here in your backyard. It’s rewarding to do simple tasks for them like bus tables or whatever they need.”

“Sedona Winds loves seeing these kids come out,” Lamparter said. “I did my club numbers last night and I’ve got 45 applications, so I’m probably going to be pushing 50 members this year. I tell the kids, you work, you have sports and you have school. So just pick something. We have so many kids in the club, you don’t have to do everything. But just pick what you’re passionate about that you can volunteer for, and then I keep track of their volunteer hours.”

The club is also working on improving the campus as well.

“We are going to be starting recycling on campus, and [school administration] suggested we start with paper,” Lamparter said. “Mr. Snider’s going to check Sedona Recycling for me to get some bags to put paper in … I have 10 kids, it’s going to be once every two months on a Friday at two o’clock to go around and collect the paper out of the classrooms.”