Interact Clubs
Interact stands for International Action and is a Rotary-sponsored service club giving young people an opportunity to participate in fun and meaningful service projects while developing leadership skills and meeting new friends.
The FernLeaf Interact Club, a dedicated group of young leaders sponsored by the Rotary Club of Hendersonville, is making a meaningful impact through service projects which support both local and global causes.
One recent project focused on helping the Blue Ridge Humane Society by raising funds for food, toys, collars and leashes. Collecting items during the morning drop-off line at school made it easy for families to contribute. The club also hosted a Family Game Night which brought the school community together while raising funds and collecting supplies for the shelter.
The FernLeaf Interact Club’s next project is a 5K Run/Walk at Fletcher Park on October 18, 2025, to raise awareness and funds for polio eradication. Rotary has been at the forefront of this fight and, thanks to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s 2-to-1 matching pledge, every dollar raised by Rotary or its Interact clubs is tripled, making the goal of a polio-free world within reach.
At Hendersonville High School, the Interact Club recently has focused on service projects promoting conservation and the environment. Students have collected the school’s recycling once a week, cleaned Sullivan Park once a month, and organized a booth at EarthFest to teach about the importance of recycling paper. One club member serves on the City of Hendersonville’s Environmental Sustainability Board.
Hendersonville HS club members meet twice monthly and have recorded nearly 400 service hours during the school year’s fall and winter months. On occasion the club provides volunteers for other causes – for example, for Salvation Army Bell Ringing. After Hurricane Helene, students collected and delivered supplies both to people in need and the Humane Society.