While most students were preparing to start the new school year by getting backpacks and school supplies ready, Hammond High’s Interact Club board gathered over pizza and fries to plan for monthly meetings and service projects in 2025-2026. Interact is one of Rotary’s key youth development programs – helping bring young people ages 12-18 together to learn leadership skills and discover the power of Service Above Self.
Hammond High Interact is one of 35 active clubs in the Washington, DC and Central Maryland area. Columbia-Patuxent Rotary is proud to sponsor the club under the direction of advisor/Rotary Liaison Kellie Lego, assisted by fellow Rotarian Michael Werling. They guide Interactors in projects and activities that can make a difference in their school and community.
For this school year, Interact plans include two long-standing service projects: an annual Food Drive to collect non-perishables for donation to Howard County’s Food Bank, and making snowflakes for children in emergency care at the Children’s Hospital in Washington, DC. Once these children are strong enough to go home, they can take their beautifully-crafted snowflake with them.
The project list goes on to include making dog toys for local animal shelters; creating thank-you messages for veterans; making blankets for kids with Project Linus; fashioning Valentine’s Day cards for senior citizens; preparing meal prep kits for the Food Bank; and cleaning up the community around the school on Earth Day. “They were even able to squeeze in some weekend community service activities throughout the school year,” Kellie Lego said. “It is going to be an amazing year!”
In addition to hands-on service and having fun, past Hammond High Interact achievements even have had international impact. For example, a 2011 student-led “Walk 4 Water” raised money for fresh water well drilling in Ethiopia. It garnered enough capital to pursue drilling of four new drinking wells in the East African country.
Columbia-Patuxent Rotary is the largest and most active of the seven Rotary Clubs in Howard County.