Interact club had its annual first quarter advisory competition, Duffle Bags, for DCFS. The competition was held from September 22 to October 6 at Carterville High School to see which advisory could collect the most bags for kids in the foster care system. The Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) takes care of all family issues when children are involved and need to be placed into the foster care system. Although this is not Interact club’s first time running this competition, there is a new sponsor and new policies in place for collecting the bags.
In past years, the sponsor of Interact was Mrs. Mallory Martin, but after she moved, Mrs. Marcie Hubbard took over the responsibility of club sponsor. Mrs.Hubbard is not new to Carterville but new to the high school. After teaching at Carterville Junior High School for 15 years, she moved up to teach at the high school level. Whilst coming into a new building and taking on a new club, she has promised to keep the traditions going that Interact has had for many years, such as duffle bags for DCFS.
When discussing the impact that duffle bags for DCFS have, Mrs.Hubbard said, “It might seem like a small gesture, but it’s a big deal. Donating bags tell kids and families that our community cares for them.”
Along with a new club sponsor learning the ropes of efficiently running Interact club, this year, the type of bag students can donate changes. In past years, DCFS has accepted donations of new or gently used bags. Starting this year, they are only taking new bags due to problems with differences in opinion of what is “gently used.”
Secretary of Interact Club and senior, Maddie Rosenbery says, “It has been incredible to watch how Mrs.Hubbard has adjusted to changes in our bag drive, especially with it being her first year. This change in how we collect bags has had a large impact, but the competition is still worth it because no matter what we collect, it is going to a good cause.”
This is a significant change to the competition since it is not always feasible for students to go out and buy new bags. When the option of being able to bring in gently used bags was still on the table, many would search their houses or second-hand stores to find bags that were no longer used. Buying multiple new bags is often too expensive for students and their families.
Senior Dani Scott says she “was shocked to learn that we can’t bring in used bags anymore. Many students, like myself, have so many bags lying around at home that we no longer use, and they will continue to go unused.”
Even after multiple changes to the Interact club itself and the regulations for the competition, Carterville students still came together to collect 55 bags for children in the foster care system. Interact Club promises to continue to have their annual Duffle Bags for DCFS and find new ways to help their community, even when obstacles come in their way.
