“Operation Cookie” continues.

Last week, the teens at Rotary Interact distributed hundreds of cookies – and smiles – to tsunami victims, patients, nurses and staff at Patong Hospital and Wachira Hospital.

On January 11, we're going on the road to Khao Lak. We'll have almost 1,000 cookies to hand out to patients and kids, staff and volunteers, at Takua Pa Hospital. These Rotary teens know what to expect, and they're ready to talk, smile, listen, and help any way they can.

The Rotary Interact group, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Patong Beach, consists of five civic-minded teenagers: Justin Leonhard, who formed the group, and four students at QSI International School – Bit Kim, Dennis Jadick, Gabriele Weschsler, and Suelbee Lee. Rotary Interact (http://www.rotary.org/programs/interact/ ) is Rotary International's program for teens aged 14 to 18.

On January 18, several Rotary members and Rotary Interact members will ride with a doctor from the Thai Public Health Service, and vaccinate indigent children at several locations in Patong and nearby areas. Most of the kids who receive the vaccine are orphans, Burmese, or other immigrants (Thai kids who go to school get the vaccine at school). We're in the unique position of providing vaccine directly to kids who need it the most.

Each Polio Plus effort involves two days. We gave the initial vaccines last month (see photo). This second trip entails giving boosters to the kids who had shots originally. Last month we vaccinated about 300 kids, and I expect most of them will come out for their boosters.

Most Rotary Interact groups hold two civic projects each year. The Patong group, which was just formed, will conduct three projects in three weeks. I guess we live in interesting times....

Rtn. Woody