Poster that Interact Members worked together on to bring Homeless Drive awareness. photo by Leila Olbricht-Simon
TJ’s Interact Club is partnering with Colorado Young Leaders to organize a drive aiming to support the homeless.
To kick off the new year of 2025, TJ Interact Club is excited to reach beyond their school community to make a difference within Denver. The members are planning and hosting a homeless drive in partnership with the non-profit organization Colorado Young Leaders.
Interact is a community service based club committed to promoting “Service above Self,” and the members are focused on developing student leaders. Last semester, Interact participated in a variety of community service projects, including picking up trash at Bible Park, volunteering at Clothes to Kids, and writing holiday cards for residents at the Holly Creek Retirement home. These projects, as well as others, made a lasting impact on the Denver community, bettering the city and a wide variety of individuals.
Interact Club is enthusiastic for their next community service project, the homeless supplies drive. President of the club, senior Riley Rimkus, explains that “The homeless drive is a supply drive for items that will be of use to people in our community from lower economic backgrounds.” The club is looking for supplies such as toothbrushes, shampoo/conditioner, wipes, deodorant, backpacks, water bottles, non-perishable foods, feminine hygiene products, band-aids, and much more. The club has worked together to make posters for the TJ hallways in order to advertise the drive. Additionally, Interact members are scheduled to make announcements on the Spartan Edition with the intention of spreading awareness to Spartan students and teachers.
All donations from any student or family are greatly appreciated, and the items can brighten an individual’s day. Rimkus expresses her gratitude towards any individual participating and says, “TJ students and families can help by donating whatever extra supplies they have to this drive.” Every donation, large or small, can contribute to an exceptional difference. Interact will be accepting donations from February 3rd to February 28th, and all donations can be dropped off in boxes labeled “Interact Homeless Drive” that are located around the school. A main drop-off box can be found in the front office, and there are other boxes located in English classrooms and near the very front entrance of the school. The students in Interact club will then take the donations and assemble supply bags for the homeless. The club will also be responsible for transporting the extra supplies to the Colorado Young Leaders (CYL).
CYL is a non-profit organization that empowers high school students to develop leadership skills through impactful community service. Secretary of Interact, senior Emanuel Morales-Gomez, started as a podcast host for the organization, and then became a part of the youth advisory board for CYL. Morales-Gomez explained that they, “Work together to create different events to support our community and also talk about different issues and find solutions.” Partnering with CYL will expand the drive, consequently making an even bigger impact. The backpacks, water bottles, and feminine hygiene products that TJ Interact receives from donations will be given to CYL so they can further support the homeless.
The officers and members of Interact are really looking forward to this community service project. Rimkus expresses that she’s “most excited to see the impact that this project will be able to make within our community.” Morales-Gomez is also enthusiastic about helping a large issue within our community, and he happily anticipates the outlet to give individuals more of “an opportunity.”
Through their dedication, members of Interact Club are coming together to provide essential items to those in need while fostering a sense of empathy and service at Thomas Jefferson High School. As the drive continues, students, faculty, and families of TJ have the opportunity to contribute and be part of a cause bigger than themselves. Every donation proves that small acts of kindness can lead to a meaningful impact.
