Lacey Interact Club shops for needy kids By BOB VOSSELLER Staff Writer   Published in the Times-Beacon December 17,, 2009 LACEY — They didn't have pointed ears, nor were they short but their mission was to make sure that children had some special presents to unwrap on Christmas Day. About 70 high school students, all members of the Interact Club, the high school service club sponsored by Forked River Rotary, took part in the annual Elf program on Friday morning. The project began at the Lanoka Harbor Walmart which proved quite convenient as it is right down Haines Street, a short distance from the high school. The students spent several hours shopping for 159 families and 371 children who live in Lacey, Barnegat and Waretown. After filling two school buses with bags of presents, the students returned to the high school and began the next phase of their work at the high school's auxiliary gym. Interact Club members were joined by Rotary members at Walmart and later at the high school. Both were busy wrapping presents, organizing them for specific families and loading the bags into vehicles for their distribution later in the week. "We collected money for the event from our fundraisers throughout the year. We also got help from the PBAs from Lacey Barnegat and Waretown. There were a lot of individuals who also helped out," Rotary Club Vice President elect Kathie Nelms said. "This is our biggest project of the year," Nelms said. Fundraising for Elf is the second biggest collection; the first is for the group's scholarship program. The local Rotary club collects about $20,000 which is spent on items for needy families. Nelms also thanked Chris Burris of Concadora Pizza for working with the Rotary on the large lunch order of the day. "The kids have a budget for each family that they have to work with," Nelms said. Seniors Trish Barney, 17, and Rachel Van Mater, 18 were among those who were busy shopping on Friday morning. "We are working on finding things for a family with four children," Van Mater said. "We are provided a wish list," Barney said. "One of the children loves horses and we found this really big horse," she added, as the teens looked over items in the toy section of the story. "I just joined the club," Van Mater said. "This is my first year too but I've done this before for my church," Barney said. "We left at 7 a.m. and we've been here for a while. Once you get one family done then you start another one," Van Mater said. "This is our fourth family of the day so far," Barney added. Seniors Joseph Cooper and Dave Coppola, both 18, were also in the toy aisle looking for items. They both joined Interact this year. "A lot of kids want Transformers toys. I wish I was a kid again," Cooper said joking. Walmart Customer Service Manager Ryan Wydra monitored the four dedicated check out lines for the Interact members. "We're making sure that it is running smoothly and that they are able to find everything they need," he said. Rotary President elect Paul Stephens was busy pushing carts filled with bags of gifts out to the two school buses. Rotary members and officers of Interact distributed the items to the families on Tuesday.