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| photographed by Ryan Kendall |
| Interact members fill the cart with toys for disabled children on Dec. 11. |
A beautifully-wrapped package under the Christmas tree is one of the most anticipated objects on Christmas Day for many children. To help handicapped children fulfill their wishes, the Interact Club will present Christmas gifts to the Crippled Children’s Society [C.C.S] on Dec. 23 from 3 to 5 p.m.
This toy delivering event will be the third holiday event that Interact will have participated in this year. Junior Albert Choie is glad to be participating in this activity. “It’s my way to give [the handicapped children] something that I have been taking granted for all my life,” Choie said. “ If it helps to take my time out to enrich their lives, it’s worth it.”
The Interact officers have acquired a list of gifts that the children from C.C.S. have requested from Santa Claus. To assure the children who participate in programs available at the C.C.S. that their wishes will not be ignored, junior James Huang announced, “Santa Claus IS coming to town!”
Interact members purchased presents such as stuffed animals, books, and other toys on Dec. 11, wrapped them on Dec. 16, and will deliver the gifts to C.C.S. on Dec. 23. “Our goal is to get around 100 presents,” Interact President Tina Chen said.
The Claremont Rotary Club, which sponsors Interact, is supporting the toy delivering event by donating most of the money that enabled Interact to buy the gifts. In addition to $300 from the Rotary Club, Interact is raising the remaining funds through fundraisers such as selling Mistletoe Grams.
“I feel that Christmas is a holiday where everyone should be happy,” Interact Treasurer Diana Nguyen said. “By helping deliver the toys to the little children, I can feel that I helped make someone’s life better.”
As a community service organization, the Interact members volunteer their time whenever needed, especially during the holidays. They have participated in the Halloween Carnival at the Youth Activity Center by hosting games, passing out candies, and decorating the haunted house. In addition to the toy deliverance, the Interact Club will be helping out with the Rose Parade float building during the Winter Break.
Interact members have also volunteered at the Pilgrims Place Festival during the Thanksgiving holiday in order to help out the senior citizens of the community. The members supervised booths and sold cotton candy and popcorn. They assisted the senior citizens in earning more money for their health care program.