Warren High Interact Take Over
by Lorine Parks
Warren High Interact presented the program today, so they also greeted us at the door and conducted the opening ceremonies. After one of their officers sang the little-known verse to the opening song, we all did a rousing chorus of “We will rock you,” and then went into the Welcome Song greeting festivities.
Warren had come to our meeting determined to raise money for End Polio Now, and the way they did it was to hold an auction of cookies and cakes. To begin, they introduced their officers and among them was Mariah Montero, Jorge’s daughter.
Interact showed us a presentation of the events in which they had participated. First was the District Cardboard Boat Race, where Interact had an entry. Then they mentioned helping at the yearly Downey Rotary Pancake Breakfast to benefit the Downey Family YMCA, followed by their canned food drive at Christmas for the PTA.
They also made and collected Blankets for Babies, and money for the campaign against polio, which was the object of today’s baked goods auction. First a basket of chocolate chip cookies was displayed and quickly went to a bidder, who passed the goods around to the tables to share. Then white-iced cupcakes sold moderately well, and cookies with fudge icing. Each item displayed sold for more than the last. The cookies decorated with vanilla frosting with big Hershey chocolate kisses looked enticing.
When one of the girls from Warren stepped up as auctioneer, prices began to take off, for cookies with dark chocolate icing, and then for a big platter in a pink cellophane wrap with a dozen iced vanilla cupcakes. Everything was home-baked and loaded with chocolate.
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The final item was a pretty all-white package with a pineapple upside down cake, and bidding really jumped. $25 was asked but Larry McGrew put in what he thought was a pre-emptive bid for $50. Someone authoritatively bid $100, and then Vahid Babaian spoke up with $125. Being outbid, Vahid raised to $200, and when nudged again, Vahid said $300 and the pineapple upside down cake was his. The Warren Interact was pleased and so was Vahid.