West Haven Voice

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Bailey Interact Club helps needy, thanks PD

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Students deliver the pizzas to the Sawmill Road police headquarters.
After the shopping came the packing.
Bailey Middle School’s Interact Club members recently took the name of the club to heart, and ‘Interacted’ with the needy of the school community as well as members of the West Haven Police Department. Members took a trip to the Elm Street Stop & Shop to stock up the shelves at the school, which aid needy families. This excursion was meant to continue helping families during the soon-to-be summer recess. But there was another surprise trip as students placed an order for 15 pizzas to offer lunch to on-duty officers and staff. Funds for the purchases were collected during recent Pajama/Hat Days at the Morgan Lane school.

By Michael O’Brien

Special to the Voice

Helping those in need, and giving back to the community were two lessons learned by one Bailey Middle School organization recently, as they made a shopping trip for residents.

On May 10, the Bailey Middle School Interact Club took a field trip that began at the West Haven Stop & Shop, before eating lunch at Lorenzo’s Ristorante, and proceeding with a surprise visit to the West Haven Police Department (WHPD).

At Stop & Shop, students shopped for Bailey families in need. The items purchased that day will be packaged for families to utilize during summer vacation. The goal is to provide six weeks of groceries for 15 families.

The club leaders, Mrs. Dina Jones, Mrs. Molly Deptulski, and Mrs. Stacy Sutton are all extremely proud of their club members.

“It is amazing to watch our students happily giving back to their peers without the expectation of receiving anything in return,” said Sutton. “Our students are learning many important lessons during their academic tenure at Bailey, but to see the way the students react when they learn the feeling you acquire when you help others is truly priceless. The lesson of service before self, which is the Rotary motto, is an invaluable lesson that our students have learned first-hand.”

After grocery shopping, students and staff enjoyed lunch at Lorenzo’s. They also placed an order for 15 pizzas to deliver to the WHPD. The delivery, which was a surprise to officers on duty, was the students’ way of thanking them for keeping our community safe. In addition to the pizzas, the Bailey Interact Club members also wrote messages of thanks to our police officers, which they hand-delivered to them.

“It makes me feel good to help my friends and peers in need,” said 8th-grader Iyanna Hill. “This club has taught me that giving back to others is the key to happiness, and I plan to continue in high school and beyond.”

The students used the funds they raised, from a Pajama/Hat Day they held at the end of April, to purchase the pizza.

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