McLean’s Rotary Club hosted its annual McLean Chocolate Festival on Jan. 26, which was open to all members of the community. People could purchase different chocolate specialties from vendors across McLean, such as Scrummy Gorgeous, Tysons Creamery and more.
“Rotary Club has always given an opportunity for volunteering at the kids’ room for the past several years,” Rotary Club president Chloe Jeong said.
The Rotary Club is a small branch of the larger Interact Club, an international club dedicated to helping students develop leadership skills, as well as foster community involvement through service projects. In the children’s room, Interact Club members painted kids’ faces and assisted in crafting activities.
“I’ve done a little bit of face painting, [as] we are responsible for helping the kids with their paint,” sophomore Avery Hughes said. “I also helped with the activity where you make animals with jello for kids.”
The Interact Club maintains various partnerships with local high schools. At McLean, their partnership includes hosting volunteering opportunities for students to contribute to their causes, including fighting polio.
“If we want to make sure that our communities continue valuing community service and each other, then we have to have this collaboration [with high schools],” Rotary Club president Cecilia Closs said.
The Rotary Club’s volunteer work allowed the busy event to run smoothly.
“We appreciate [the Rotary Club] being here, especially with the kids,” Closs said. “It’s vital to us that, on the day of the festival, we’ve got extra hands to come and help us. We really value that.”
