Advertisement

RHS Interact is making a difference

Share

Cynthia Salow and Paula Payne got to kiss a goat recently, compliments of the Interact Club at Ramona High School.

Interact students held a Kiss A Goat Fundraiser at the school to benefit Heifer International. For two weeks, participating RHS staff collected donations to see who could raise the most money. Staff members raising the most and the least money were to kiss a goat.

At the end of the collection period, Cynthia Salow and Paula Payne, who, respectively, raised the most and the least money, kissed goats Jupiter and Baby on the RHS stage during lunch. Salow, RHS Principal Tony Newman’s secretary, collected $76.09. Payne, an art teacher, raised $2.71. The event raised a total of $220.04, reported club adviser Jolie Iraheta with the workability program at Ramona High.

The Heifer organization purchases resources and provides training for people in impoverished countries. The Interact students decided to purchase a goat, a flock of chicks, a flock of ducks or geese, a hive of honeybees and a share of a llama with the money raised. They thank all of the staff and students who participated to the fundraiser’s success.

Interact is a Rotary International service club for young people from 12 to 18 years old. Ramona Rotary Club sponsors the Ramona High Interact Club. Ramona Rotarian Melissa Brunner serves as a liaison between Rotary and the students.

As club sponsor, Ramona Rotary provides support and guidance, but Interact is self-governing and self-supporting.

Anyone who drove by the park on school district property at 1710 Montecito Road on Saturday morning saw the two groups — Ramona Rotary and RHS Interact — working together during Ramona Rotary Work Day to clean up the park so it will be more appealing for the community’s use.

RHS Interact has 18 members and meets Thursday mornings during BACE in Room G8 at the school.

It’s been a busy year for the students. In addition to their Heifer fundraiser and Rotary Work Day, they collected clothing, toiletries and nonperishable foodstuffs for Tsunami Relief to benefit Pacific Islanders; they held a Holiday Food & Toy Drive for the Ramona Food & Clothes Closet before Christmas for those in need in the community; and they spearheaded Teens for Jeans, collecting about 700 pairs of jeans for homeless teenagers in the U.S. and Canada.

On their agenda of upcoming service projects, they will partner with the ARRIBA Teen Center at 1710 Montecito Road, VAPA (Visual and Performing Arts) at RHS and RHS Cheer to hold a Halloween Festival and Haunted House for younger children and teens at the ARRIBA Teen Center in October.

Anyone wishing more information about RHS Interact may contact Iraheta at jiraheta@ramonausd.net

Advertisement

At a time when local news is more important than ever, support from our readers is essential. If you are able to, please support the Ramona Sentinel today.