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Tailgate party includes special guests
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Aaron Graneto and Shianna Shaffer are co-presidents of the Interact Club.
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Neighbors | Emily Gianetti.David Allison attended the tailgate party with "Nana" and "Poppa" Campolito.
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Kayla Quinn and Bianca Severino met at the tailgate party and took advantage of a photo opportunity.
By EMILY GIANETTI
Students with special needs don’t get as many opportunities to socialize as their other peers do. But the Canfield High School’s Interact Club is one of a few groups that provides that opportunity.
Interact hosted a pregame tailgate party for all students in Alicia Muzina’s special needs class on Sept. 23 in the high school’s athletic foyer. It was part of Project Support, a program that helps disabled kids get involved in their school.
Parents of the students were invited as well, and soon the hall was filled with both food and people. Interact members made sure the students felt included treated them like average kids.
“It helps them feel closer to their peers and lets them experience the excitement of school spirit and sports,” said junior representative and club member, Olivia Roy.
She also mentioned how she never would have met some of the kids if not for her time in Interact.
“It’s a very good experience for their typical peers to socialize with them,” said Muzina of the event, “It makes them more aware of what a great bunch of kids they are.”
Developing this respect for others is one of the purposes of Interact. Interact, a division of the Rotary Club, focuses on getting students ages 12 through 18 to help people through community service projects and events such as the tailgate.
Through this work, members leave a good impression on those they work with.
“They included my students during the tailgate,” said Muzina, “So far, I think the Interact kids have done very well with my students.”
She looks forward to working with Interact again over the course of the school year. As a part of Project Support, Canfield Interact members will attend the annual Sadie Hawkins Dance with the kids and will go to dinner with them beforehand.