Interact Club Helps Rotary Club, Troopers Collect Truckload of Food Donations

Earlier this month, the Hen Hud Interact Club provided assistance to the Rotary Club of Cortlandt to benefit veterans who utilize the food pantry at the New York State Veterans Home at Montrose. Led by senior Ember Bates, the Interact Club helped collect a truck full of food donations along with the Rotary Club and New York State troopers.

The Interact Club was created at Hendrick Hudson High School last year at the request of students and is now in its first full year. Interact is a youth organization of the Rotary Club that focuses on serving the community and building global cooperation.

Christine Lupien, the club’s advisor, said the food drive was the first of many community activities the Interact Club plans on participating in alongside the Rotary Club of Cortlandt. Last school year, the Rotary Club awarded Class of 2024 graduate Mia Pajuelo — a founding member of the Interact Club — a $1,000 scholarship after her efforts helped to expand the charitable causes of the Rotary organization.

This month, Lupien said the Interact Club plans on establishing a giving tree that will provide an opportunity for high school students, clubs and employees to help those in need within the Hendrick Hudson community. The giving tree will allow a person to pick a name a child’s name off the tree and then shop for gifts for that child.