Snow didn’t dampen Interact accomplishments
PUTNAM — Jan. 5 the Putnam Rotary Club and its Interact Club celebrated another successful Salvation Army kettle bell-ringing fund-raiser with prizes and pizza.
The annual fund-raiser began Nov. 28 and 29 and ran every Saturday and Sunday until Christmas. Bell-ringers collected $10,926 in the kettles and then the Newell D. Hale Foundation donated $2,000 for a total of $12,926, according to Rotarian Roberta Rocchetti, Interact advisor. In its long history the Interactors have raised close to a quarter of a million dollars.
Rocchetti spoke for Kathi Peterson, director of the Putnam Salvation Army office, noting the club’s efforts “supported her work in helping the needy with rent and heat assistance, shelter and so much more.” Ninety percent of the money raised stays in the northeastern corner.
There’s just a “bit” of competition in the fund-raiser each year.
This year the third-place winner for the most bell ringing hours was Kaylee Bundy a senior from Woodstock Academy with 10 hours; second went to Calleigh Levesque, a junior from Tourtellotte Memorial High School with 15 hours; and the first-place winners Paige Perry and Gabriell Cerasiello, seniors from Putnam High each with a record-breaking 40 hours.
Putnam High senior Leah Benzie will deliver the certificate to the school for the most bell ringing hours, 124. Woodstock Academy was second with 88 hours; Tourtellotte had 69 hours; Marianapolis, 18 hours and UConn had 15 hours.
Rotary Club President Kathy Kirk gave the blessing and the pizza was from Henry’s Diner.
Rocchetti thanked everyone and invited students to attend the next Interact meeting at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 13 at the Putnam Public Library. The club will be discussing the theme for its ice sculpture at Fire and Ice. For more information about the Interact Club contact Roberta Rocchetti 860-933-8603 or
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Kathy Kirk, left, and Roberta Rocchetti, right, with, from left: Leigh Benzie, Calleigh Levesque, and Gabriell Cerasiello. Courtesy photos.
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