In a groundbreaking move, Glen Lake students are ensuring that people stay warm through a coat drive “Layer Up Lakers” organized by the Glen Lake Interact Club.
“There’s so many families that are in need during these cold times that probably aren’t able to provide their kids with all of the warm clothing needed,” Glen Lake senior Ella Flores said. “This is just a way to help others around us ... the whole point of the club is just to help other people in need around you.”
Flores, who leads the program for the Lakers in partnership with Rotary International, initiated the Rotary Interact Club at the school with help from Tom Trumbull, chairman of the Suttons Bay-Leelanau County Rotary Club’s Life Leadership committee.
Rotary Interact clubs bring together young people ages 12-18 to develop leadership skills while discovering the power of the Rotary motto “Service Above Self.”
Interact clubs organize at least two projects every year, one that helps their school or community and one that promotes international understanding. The Rotary Club sponsors mentor and guide Interactors as they carry out projects and develop leadership skills.
“I felt as though this was an important thing to bring to Glen Lake. There’s always room to be able to help other people, so that’s what the whole club is based off of,” Flores said.
The idea for a jacket drive was spontaneous and organic, literally planned two weeks ago, according to Flores.
“We didn’t really set a goal. This was, we planned it literally two weeks ago, and we just tried to get the word out as fast as possible. We’re having a little competition between our grade levels, our high school grade levels in school. So that will be another way to bring in some coats,” she said.
The Lakers held a coat drive Sunday, which had a decent turnout but they are still looking for more donations. They plan to organize a coat drive after the holidays, including hats, coats, gloves, and boots, among other items. All donations will be heading to local schools in need or other community organizations.
Last year, during a spring leadership conference, Flores attended and aimed to create an Interact Club at Glen Lake.
Due to Flores’ leadership, she will be heading to El Salvador for a service trip through Rotary to build houses, on spring break.
She is the president of the Laker Interact Club, which has roughly eight kids involved.
Today, Glen Lake is having a contest with four class advisers; students will have two minutes to see how many coats they can put on their advisers.
“This is a really fun group of young students that are wanting to become leaders and do some projects locally and internationally,” Trumbull said.
