Rotary Interact brightens Christmas for two

STEUBENVILLE -- The Steubenville High School Rotary Interact made Christmas a little brighter for two students at Harding Middle School this year.

The organization sold hot chocolate every day for the past two months to raise money to purchase gifts for the two middle school students. The two students are Lejuan Swearengen, 12, who is in the sixth grade, and his sister, Aaliyah Swearengen, 11, who is a fifth-grader.

The children said they were happy with the gifts they received, especially the "Big Red stuff."

Lejuan had a hard time picking out a favorite gift.

"(My favorite) is the book bag, I guess," he said.

Aaliyah was more definitive in her favorites.

"I like the book bag and the clothes," she said. "It makes me feel special."

Club Advisor Scott Lane said that bringing people together and making them feel special is what the project, now in its third year, is all about.

"We want to give them a Christmas they deserve," he said. "Life asked them (the children) to grow up too fast, we want to help them just be like every other kid. Big Red is a family, and we want to take care of our own."

Senior Dylan Cunningham agreed.

"It's amazing -- watching them open the presents and seeing them smile," he said.

Makayla Crownover, group president, said the event was heartwarming.

"This hits my heart really hard," she said. "We gave the kids something that wouldn't normally happen. It really hits my heart."