Clubs unite for community service excellence

Committed to community service, the Freeport Merrick Rotary and Interact Clubs have forged a harmonious relationship, where support and collaboration are the keys to their shared success.

Founded in 1905, the Rotary Club helps people all over the world in a myriad of humanitarian work including food and clothing drives. Its central headquarters resides in Chicago, Illinois, and is comprised of 1.4 million members worldwide in 200 countries.

“We are a nonprofit, nonpolitical, nonreligious organization,” Director of Community Relations Michael Horowitz said. 

Working closely with the Interact Club, Rotary engages in impactful projects, including food drives, collecting gifts for Big Brothers Big Sisters, and supporting Angela’s House. 

“We always want to get people involved in service early in their lives,” Pecora said. “From a young age, giving back is a great way to meet people, learn things, and try something you’ve never done before.”

Under the dedicated guidance of Advisor Brianne Underwood, Freeport High School students are making waves as they navigate the challenges of maintaining a thriving student Interact Club.

With 48 students actively participating, the Interact Club’s primary goal is to engage in meaningful community service within Freeport and its surrounding areas. This year, the club volunteered for the End Alzheimer’s Walk in October and participated in the Lido Beach Cleanup. This Saturday, students are set to volunteer at the Salvation Army as bell ringers, generously dedicating their time to spreading holiday cheer.

Underwood guides the students while allowing them the autonomy to spearhead initiatives. As a student advisor, she understands the importance of letting students take the lead in various projects.

“These students successfully raised funds during our Homecoming event by creating bracelets called ‘spirit bling’ which had the colors of the school district,” Underwood said. “This is where the money came from that we donated to the End Alzheimer’s walk.”

The Interact Club has established a valuable connection with the Rotary, which acts as a bridge to community events and opportunities for service; the collaboration, however, extends beyond community service, as they have worked together on projects like collecting items for veterans and supporting prom-related initiatives for those in need.

Another student-run project was the ‘garbage can project,’ in which students decorated garbage cans with themes focused on protecting the environment. 

“These students are so creative, they came up with the design and did the work for painting it,” Underwood said.

“After being selected, we attended a breakfast a couple of weeks ago in Islip where we received the second place award.” 

Underwood cherishes the opportunity to work with students outside of a normal academic environment. 

“I love helping the kids see that even though they’re young, they can make huge contributions to help their own community in ways they probably never even thought of,” Underwood said. “It doesn’t have to be financial, just giving some time to support whatever the endeavor is.”

Freeport-Merrick Rotary Club Vice President Jordan Pecora expressed similar sentiments, referencing Underwood’s previous point about showing up being as important as any money that could be donated. 

“Our motto is ‘service above self,’ it’s the whole, it’s not just one person,” Pecora said. “Working with the Interact Club furthers this; you get to see the kids with smiles on their faces, wanting to do the work, putting in the effort, and sometimes leading us adults in endeavors.

“We always want to get people involved in service early in their lives. From a young age, giving back is a great way to meet people, learn things, and try something you’ve never done before.”

Both clubs exemplify the positive impact that children and adults alike can have on their community, proving that even small contributions can make a significant difference. 

“What most people don’t realize is that each person can do something to give back to the community that they live in,” Rotary director of community relations, Michael Horowitz said.