Carthage In Action group helps better community
When the CIA is mentioned, the first thing that comes to mind is the government agency that does special operations. The CIA in Carthage also does special operations, but their goals are different from those of the CIA in Langley, Va.
The local CIA, Carthage in Action, is a group made up of roughly 20 high school students from Carthage High School. The organization was started three years ago, and their goal is to be involved and help the community be a better place.
CIA Sponsor, Scott Hettinger, is in his second year with the group. He oversees the projects that the students are working on, and helps guide the group with each mission.
“I get to be involved with the students throughout each event,” Hettinger said. “When an event comes up, I get to be there and help out.”
The CIA is currently working on a toilet paper drive for the Lafayette House in Joplin. The house is a safe haven for women, children and families in southwest Missouri can find help for problems related to domestic violence, drug or alcohol addiction.
The drive will consist of a contest between each seminar class at the high school. The class that collects the most toilet paper will get the opportunity to wrap Principal Kandy Frazier in toilet paper, and also receive a prize from the Big Blue Bakery.
Even though the students get a reward for the most toilet paper collected, they all look at it as helping the community.
“We’re just doing whatever we can to help out,” said Becca Mcafee, 16, who is in her first year with the CIA. “We just try to raise money or help out the community in any way we can.”
The CIA meets every Tuesday after school, and also once a month during seminar to discuss future plans of the group.
Next will be a bake sale to help raise money, which will be followed by volunteering to work security to during the Rock C- Town Concert at Memorial Hall. Roxy Town is a drug awareness concert that will be held on March 13th.
“The best part about it is being able to help people in need,” said Mark Dunn, another first year CIA agent. “All my friends were doing it, and it sounded interesting.”
The CIA encourages volunteers of all ages. If you would like to get involved, or have any fundraising ideas contact Scott Hettinger at the Carthage High School.
