Every October, the McKinney North Interact Club joins with the fellow Interact Clubs of District 5810 to create several thousand Angel Tree kits for the Salvation Army. An Angel Tree kit contains the basic information an individual needs in order to help provide Christmas for a deserving child in need. Additionally, the Interact Club helps throughout November and December at the Collin Creek Mall by handing out these Angel Tree kits to shoppers.
"This event is meaningful to me since it is an unique opportunity for our entire district to come together to create something wonderful. It is awesome to see all of these teenagers from different cities and backgrounds volunteer to make an impact in these children's lives." -Melina Corriveau (President)
Without the environment, virtually nothing would take place. That's why McKinney North Interact makes sure to include service for our bountiful environment through our Community Garden venture. Situated behind the Holy Family School in Downtown McKinney, the Community Garden is a garden centered on organic crops and gardening methods and run by community members. This project also offers us the opportunity to bond with our sister Interact club at McKinney High as both clubs team up one Saturday every month or so to do a little gardening.
"The outdoors are not always pleasant, but helping out at the Community Garden with our sister Interact club brings out the best in the outdoors; I not only get to help contribute to food pantries in our community, but I also get an energized start to my day out in nature, with the sun beaming on my face and laughter and joy deep in my soul in the elements and with my friends." - Mushfequr Rahman (Secretary)
Mums and Garters
Each and every year we look forward to Homecoming mostly for this event. It allows the entire Interact club to come together as a group and put together a service project at the start of the year. It starts the Interact year off on an amazing foot and gives people a feel of what our club is all about, "Service above self." It means so much to us to give back to the amazing kids who impact our lives more than they'll ever know. Our favorite part of this event is getting the opportunity to go into each of our special needs classes and putting the mums and garters on every student. The smiles that they get when we give them their mum or garter means so much and really shows why we do everything we do. It's to positively impact someone other than ourselves and take steps into making this world a better place.
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." -Rrita Vraniqi (Treasurer)
PRICELESS
PRICELESS is a human trafficking awareness event that the Interact club started 2 years ago and will continue to hold this year that shows a video and a panel discussion that helps to open the eyes of McKinney North students and just the community around us in general how Human Traffiking isn't just a problem in other countries around the world but here in our country and in our states as well as states around us.
"Just a pebble in the water can make a ripple and that can turn into setting a sea in motion" -Annelise Cathey (Historian)
Thanksgiving Treats- Our interact club takes great pride in our thanksgiving feast! During one meeting we take a list of all of the teachers names and we make them personalized invitations to our teacher appreciation feast. All of the members bring tasty treats such as pies, cupcakes, cookies, and even some equally tasty gluten free treats! On the last friday before Thanksgiving break the members go during their lunches to serve teachers as a sign of appreciation for everything that they do.
"Teachers devote their time to us everyday so I feel like devoting my lunch to serving them was so little in comparison and the least I could do because they deserve countless 'thank yous'. " -Mary Sarife (Vice President)
Downtown McKinney field trip with the Special Needs students
We decided to take the Special Needs classes on a fun field trip in order to show them around different places in Downtown McKinney like visiting and touring the fire station, reading books at the library, and eating at Hugs Café a resturaunt run by special needs adults. This was an all day activity that the kids LOVED and really helped show them what it will be like when they get older. The teamwork and collaboration between our members and the children was inspring. "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." -Ralph Waldo Emerson