Youthact students chip in to help Share

The Youthact Club at Warren County Middle School has offered its support, both physical and financial, to the Southern Standard-sponsored Share A Christmas Dinner program.

The club is donating $100 and will be participating in packing and delivering the food boxes around the county along with its affiliate, the Interact Club, which includes WCHS students.

The WCMS Youthact Club is sponsored by McMinnville?s Breakfast Rotary Club and the Rotary Club of McMinnville.

This year?s Youthact Club president Will Martalla says the club has been involved before, and is glad to be able to participate in the program for another year.

?We?ve done it every year in Youthact,? Martalla said, ?and we decided we want to keep on doing it. It?s really a nice program and it?s great to be able to help.?

Martalla says it?s important to think of others this time of year.

?Some people might not be able to get their own food,? Martalla said, ?so when we get it to them, it makes them feel really good. And it makes us feel good too.?

Fellow club member Shelby Boyd says it?s something those who receive the boxes will remember for a long time.

?It?s important because it gives kids faith to know someone is thinking about them,? Boyd said. ?And they can always have hope that things will get better, even in the worst situations. It?s really sad when so many people have so much food, and some people have almost nothing. That?s why Youthact does this, so everyone, old, young, big, small, can get some food for Christmas.?

Youthact Rotary sponsor Susan Barrett says the club will be involved all along the way.

?Youthact member will be present Dec. 17 to pack the boxes for the families with the Interact Club,? Barrett said, ?and they will also be present on Dec. 20 to help hand these boxes out to the needy families.?

The Middle School Youthact Club is currently about 60 strong and growing. They will be attending an Interact Conference at Pigeon Forge in March, according to Barrett.

?They?ve been doing a lot of great things this year,? Barrett said.

Rotary sponsors include Barrett and Dr. John Purvis from Breakfast Rotary, and Jim Carden from the Rotary Club of McMinnville. The school sponsor is Kevin Dunlap.

Donations are still being collected for Share A Christmas Dinner, and according to the Southern Standard advertising director Sharon Patrick, the help of both the Youthact and Interact Clubs has been invaluable to the program.

?If it wasn?t for the help of these great organizations, we couldn?t get this done,? said Patrick. ?That and the people of this community who have always stepped up and responded generously.?

Donations may be made to Share A Christmas Dinner, P.O. Box 150, McMinnville, Tenn., 37111.