Last week Interact Club held two fundraisers to raise money for the Open Arms Mission and a summer camp in Tanzania. The Battle for Change was a competition between District 117 schools to see which school could raise the most money for the local Open Arms Mission. Antioch won donating $433.45, beating Lakes which donated$213.16. In total Interact Club raised $646.61 for Open Arms Mission. This will help the mission feed people in need for over a month.

On Fri. Feb. 21, the Chili Cook Off was another big success. In total, $930 was raised from people sampling the chili that were prepared by D117 students and staff. The $930 raised from the Chili Cook Off will support a summer enrichment camp in Tanzania this summer. The money will help the volunteers travel to Tanzania as well as provide resources needed for the camp.  They will be teaching the children math, science, computers, English, health and PE.

Winners of the cook off were junior Brianna Linco from ACHS and Sarah Hoke from LCHS. Teacher Jenny Harrington from Lakes won out of the teachers. Harrington gave her $25 prize back to the club to help with the fundraising efforts. The student team ended up winning the competition beating out the teachers and winning Africa t-shirts.

“I am super happy with the results. The D117 Interact Club was able to raise over $1500 in 4 days to support their work locally and internationally to help fight poverty by working to provide easier access to health and nutrition.  Their money supports the Open Arms Food Pantry for over one month of food which helps feed many families in Antioch and Lake Villa.  Their money also will help educate over 100 children in Tanzania on subjects they would otherwise not have access to.  It was an amazing week and I am so proud of the club for everything they have been able to accomplish. They are a pretty amazing group of teenagers.  I am also thankful for all the staff, community members, rotary members and supporters that showed up to help us out,” said Kerri Elliot.