The opening of the 2008-09 School year at Etna High School was an inspiration for the Rotarians of Scott Valley.  The initial meeting of the Interact Club was announced to the students and a note that they would focus this year in honor of their good friend Antonia.  The room was packed with 40+ students and a number of faculty as well.  We're off to a heck of a start; I don't think anything will deter this group of young adults!  They jumped right in, elected officers and decided to continue and improve their Student Mentoring" project at the Etna Elementary School, perhaps start an a program to help senior citizens with chores and other ideas as well.  They continue to support Toni's Dream Project.  We've named it "Toni's Backpacks" and the project continues in 2008-09.  Several Interact Clubs in Oregon have joined the program also.

Davie Martin
PHF, Rotarian, Interact Advisor

The EHS Interact Club, a student service organization operating under the leadership of Rotary International, has developed its international service project for this year. The projects purpose is to collect school supplies and put together backpacks for children kindergarten through third grade in Mexico. The goal the Interact club has set is to put together and send over 400 backpacks. The backpacks will consist of paper, pencils, crayons and hopefully Spanish children’s books.

The project will be in dedication to EHS student Antonia Cornell-Banke who passed away last June in a single car accident. Antonia was very involved in Interact her three years at EHS. The project will appropriately be named Toni’s Backpacks.
The first city the Interact club is planning on sending backpacks to will be Mulege, Baja CA Sur. Mulege was recently greatly depressed by a storm, and lots of people lost many of their belongings. Interact will determine other locations at a later date.
Interact club plans on funding the project in several ways. There is a sum of money left in the Interact account from last year that will be used for the project. The officers are also planning on donations from students and the community. Further, Mrs. Jeffy Marx is trying to get a $1000 grant from Wal-Mart.

The Spanish Club, which Antonia was also extremely involved in, wants to join the project. It was suggested that, when the Spanish club takes its annual trip to Mexico later in the year, it could take backpacks to the school where they are going as well.
The Scott Valley division of the Interact Clubs developed this project, but many other schools from Southern Oregon and parts of California want to be a part of it. Antonia’s mother Cynthia Shaffer, will be traveling to other Interact locations to speak about the project, and hopefully create a broader scope.

Donations would be greatly appreciated. Money donations can be given to the school and deposited into the Interact Club account. Donations of school supplies can be dropped off at Martin’s Experienced Items on Main St. in Etna to Davie Martin, Interact advisor.

More on the project >>