Our speakers, Ida Fiore and Brad Swanson wear many hats. They are both teachers and sponsors for SaLT, Shop N Drop, Love2Learn, Dream BIG and now they will be our Interact sponsors. Ida is also responsible for the Northwood Gives Back program where she teaches. Fresh from their SaLT (Service and Learning Together) trip to New Orleans with 8 HPHS students (some Interact members), Brad and Ida shared a video of the service projects the students were involved in as well as a tour of Tulane, a bayou and the Myrtles Plantation which left a deep emotional impression on them. They worked with a water reclamation project that involved painting decorative designs on rain barrels for reuse which will help with New Orleans' flooding issues. They also worked with a community gardening project and Lower 9th ward rebuilding that continues even today, 15 years after the catastrophic event, Hurricane Katrina. There are seven guiding principles of SaLT. In how to act and think, students respect first, serve second; communicate love; this is it; unplug (no phones); be flexible; it will happen little by little, and bring that compassion home. Their motto is a quote attributed to Matahma Gandhi: "Be the change you wish to see in the world." It has been a year since Shop N Drop began. An HPHS alumnae came up with the idea while sitting at home during the lockdown. She was seeing some of her classmates and their families not being able to work and having no food. At the height of the SND program they provided food (both cold and dry) as well as paper products. The student volunteers also created cards for each family and put together art projects for the kids. Ida and Brad are so proud of their student leaders. In the 13 months of its inception, 312 volunteers have been a part of this program either collecting food, getting bags ready, handing out the groceries at the pick up site or delivering them. Eighteen of those students were Interact members who contacted Ida on their own. During this time they followed all the CDC guidances. Each family was contacted to make sure they had what they needed and from this came the need to help these students with tutoring. That is how Love2Learn came about. Dream BIG started when they realized children needed a more creative or active outlet. When weather permits, children play soccer outside near the Highwood library and inside, children will partake in arts and crafts. Ida mentioned that although things are getting better, many of the many served by SND are in "catch up mode" so the food is still needed for so many. They are currently providing food for about 100 families every other week. Aside from the very generous private donations (one person donated $500 Target gift cards at Christmas time), businesses and organizations that support the programs include Port Clinton Square, Sunset Foods, Girl Scout Cookies, Once Upon a Bagel, Blessings in a Backpack, Bent Fork, Craftwood, Barilla, the Highland Park Community Foundation and our Club. With all of these projects going on, Ida and Brad still make the time for the students to reflect on their experiences - either by journaling or discussing. Now with their Interact commitment, Brad and Ida have met with the Interact co-presidents - Zach and Dillon Freed, They are excited to begin the application process. Their goal is to have two service projects and three meetings a month. Ida and Brad would love to hear from us as to what we would like them to focus on. Suggestions and ideas can be sent to Len Tenner, our Interact liaison. |