Clubs, organizations and volunteers around the world have been working for years to fight a devastating disease that arose more than 200 years ago. Children are left defenseless to an infectious illness that can be deadly to those who contract it, but there is hope with clubs like Interact and Rotary who are working to fight. 

Interact Club is currently holding “Pennies for Polio” and will be accepting donations as they partner with Rotary International to provide vaccines for those in need. 

“‘Pennies for Polio’ is a program created to educate and involve local schools in the work that Rotary International and its Polio Eradication partners have undertaken to eradicate polio worldwide,” Interact sponsor Mikayla Bilbo said. “We partner each year so that we can help give a vaccine to a child and adult in need in order to eradicate this debilitating disease.”

After funds have been collected from those in the community and at the school, they will be taken care of by the partnering organization to make sure they are put to use. 

“The money is given to the Rotary International club who then purchase vaccines for the countries in need,” Bilbo said.

“Pennies for Polio” is not the only thing Interact does. They are constantly looking for work in the community to help the area. 

“Interact is a service organization that helps not only local service needs, but internationally as well. It was started by our local Lake Conroe Rotary club advocate,” Bilbo said.

Polio is a potentially deadly disease, but the vaccine has proven useful in preventing it, and organizations are working together to fight for the health of their nations and the globe. 

“This has been an ongoing issue for many years, and each year we are closer and closer to getting rid of it in the countries that are still fighting it to this day,” Bilbo said. “Until it is stopped, children and adults are at risk everywhere, especially in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria.”