It was a special Halloween at the Light House last weekend – the community room was decorated with spider webs and candy-filled pumpkins. Members of the South River High School Interact Club spent the day with the children living at the shelter, playing games and creating Halloween themed arts and crafts.
The children came dressed in costume and played pin the head on the skeleton, the mummy game, board games and bobbing for donuts. Naa Allotey-McGruder, a senior at South River High School and 1st year member of the Interact Club, charged with painting faces. Using toilet paper rolls, brown paper bags and markers, club members worked with the kids to created paper pumpkins.
Emily Dering, a senior at South River High School and Co-President of the Interact Club, said, “ it means a lot to me and the other members to be here today. Instead of just sitting at home, we have a chance to come here and make some kids happy by bringing a little fun into their lives – even if it is just for a day.”
The Interact Club is led by Linda Lamon, Global Communications and Public Affairs for South River High School and Wes Baker, advisor and head of the Leadership Program at the high school. Both Linda and Wes oversee and organize the needs of the Club’s activities.
Each year, Interact clubs complete at least two community service projects. Through these efforts, “Interactors” develop a network of friendships with local and overseas clubs and learn the importance of developing leadership skills and personal integrity, demonstrating helpfulness and respect for others, understanding the value of individual responsibility and hard work and advancing international understanding and goodwill. Interact clubs are sponsored by individual Rotary clubs, which provide support and guidance, but they are self-governing and self-supporting. The South River High School Interact Club is sponsored by the South River Rotary.
The Interactors from South River High School chose the Light House as one of their major projects for this school year. They knew they wanted to do something for kids and had heard there were children living in the homeless shelter. It was a perfect fit.
Over a year ago, the Light House: Homeless Prevention and Support Center in Annapolis moved into its new 24,000 square foot facility on Hudson Street. In addition to providing shelter to 45 individuals and five families, through the efforts of volunteers, the Light House serves bagged lunches everyday to those in need in our community and distributes over 6,000 bags of groceries each year through the pantry program. The shelter has also opened a Clothing Closet and will provide Winter Relief from mid-November to March to those who are chronically homeless safe and warm during inclement weather.
It is the goal of the Light House to evaluate immediate needs of homeless individuals and families, assess the root causes of homelessness and empower the with the education, financial, job and life skills to sustain employment, permanent housing and independence.
For more information or to volunteer at the Light House, please contact Michele Marshall at 410.349.5056 or by email at marshall@ annapolislighthouse.org.
