Carson City students through the Rotary Club's Interact Club visited Sierra Basin Memory Care recently.

Carson City teens brought smiles to residents of  Sierra Basin Memory Care this week. The students, all members of the Rotary Interact program, brought Senior Smiles bags to the senior citizens to help brighten their day. The gift bags contained handmade cards, bookmarks, paper cranes, a notebook, pens and other personal items. 

Interact Clubs are service-oriented organizations for young people aged 12–18. Sponsored by local Rotary clubs, its mission is to foster leadership, international understanding, and community service. The clubs allow young people to experience the power of service, discover new cultures, and promote international understanding while developing leadership skills and making new friends.

Carson High sophomore Jaden Joaquin says the experience had a positive impact on him. “I was able to see a different perspective of aging and the elderly.” Sophomore Khloe Kellum agrees.  “As a high schooler, it’s kind of rare to see so many elderly people,” she explains. “I was a little surprised to see that still had such fun and bubby personalities.”

Interact president Sadie Brown, a senior at Carson High School, shares that the day was special “It was incredible seeing the residents so happy and surprised they almost couldn’t believe it when we gave them their bags! It was such a good, rewarding, heartwarming feeling!”

Sophomore Jaden Joaquin agrees. “After delivering the smile bags at the senior facility I got to see the different perspectives of the old age and the elderly, and it just gave me a different perspective on our elderly here in Carson.”

With over 250,000 members in 11,000+ clubs worldwide, they complete at least two projects each year; one local and one international. To learn more about Carson City’s Interact Club email Marietta Sophie Paul at msophie1023@gmail.com