The trick-or-treaters roaming the streets of Dowagiac last Saturday morning were quite out of the ordinary.

Besides being a day late, they traded in their costumes for thick winter jackets and masks for wool hats. The prizes they sought were not sweet confections but cans of vegetables, fruit and soup.

Fifteen members with the Dowagiac Union High School Interact braved the chilly weather that morning, going door-to-door to collect canned and nonperishable food items from locals in the community. Two hours later, they donated these items to the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church food pantry, filling up an entire 8-foot long table, said club co-sponsor Brenda Reagan.

“The students were kind of disappointed that more people weren’t giving, but they were pleased with how some residents were overly generous, giving more than they expected,” she said. “It was an eye-opening experience for them, for sure.”

The club collects food to local pantries such as St. Paul’s on an annual basis, Reagan said. They are among several student-driven organizations and efforts to combat hunger within the community.

“While we were dropping off the students collected, we saw several people coming to the pantry to pick up food,” Reagan said. “There’s just such a need here.”

Around 50 Chieftains are current members of the Interact club, with 20 students joining just this year. The student service club is a part of Rotary International, and frequently coordinates with the members of the local club.

“Rotary does a lot things for students, and we want them to take advantage of everything the community has to offer,” Reagan said.

This is the first year that Reagan, secretary for Dowagiac Union High School, and Kara Cox, one of the district’s guidance counselors, have overseen Interact. Both women have had family members who have been involved with Rotary International, witnessing the benefits that its members provides each other, Reagan said.

“Both of my daughters were involved with Interact, and they are still friends today with the people they’ve met through Rotary programs,” she said.

On Friday, the students will be collecting donations to Rotary’s polio elimination efforts during the lunch period. Several members of the local club are expected to be in attendance.