Chili Night Heated Up with Fundraising for Guatemala Mission 'Clean Water'

Teens headed to Guatemala for a week of service this summer threw an awesome-tasting chili supper fundraiser at Lindbergh High School Saturday night. The students are part of Interact, a 3-year-old high school service club that has partnered with the local Crestwood-Sunset Hills Rotary Club to launch a mission trip July 17-24.

Amy Richards, the group's teacher sponsor, said the volunteers will be helping with water filtration units in a highland area of Guatemala, the Lake Atitlan region, populated primarily by Mayans. Mayans, the indigenous people of Guatemala, make up about 48 percent of the total population.

A Rotary group in Florence, Oregon had an ongoing program to donate the $50-each water filter, buckets and spigot and Interact has taken up the cause. The clean-water unit is named Q Beta and manufactured in England. Studies showed good results in trial distribution. The filters last two years and can be washed out.

"We're just learning so much and enjoying getting people of all ages involved in giving back," Richardson said about the mission. Richardson is also the high school's go-to teacher focusing on character education

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