As many of you are aware, MHSHS has a multitude of clubs, being home to over 20 clubs all ranging from clubs that let students self-express themselves (whether it’s doing crafts or dance) to learning new skills such as coding or women’s health. The point is, in MHSHS, one can always find a club that matches their interests and be able to fit into their schedule. Afterall, a majority of students have a busy schedule, trying to keep up with the schoolwork teachers give and also having a social life: whether that includes hanging out with their friends or being a part of an MLK sports team. But what happens when there’s a conflict of interests and students can’t do clubs after school? Fear not, for there are clubs that do this, giving students a chance to gain volunteer hours and still have fun during school hours, since this club takes place during lunch! This time I’ll be highlighting a particular club, also known as Charity Club! Charity Club was created by then-sophomore, now junior Afsara Monzur, alongside her peers Elena Flores (Co-President), Yusuf Siahaya (Co-President), and Imran Rahman (Treasurer). Thankfully, I was able to have a one-on-one interview with Afsara Monzur and was able to ask her some questions, “How did you come up with the idea to create  Charity Club? What were the ups and downs of it? What events has your club done? Why should others join?”

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Regarding the first question, Afsara Monzur said, “I came up with the idea of starting a charity club because I wanted to give back to my community, especially through our school. I noticed that many students couldn’t volunteer after school due to sports commitments, so I aimed to create an opportunity during lunch. This way, students could earn volunteer hours while also participating in fundraisers to help our community.” Monzur was able to address a serious problem with a lot of MHSHS clubs, since they take place after school, it interrupts a student’s plans that otherwise can’t be rescheduled and thus, don’t allow them the opportunity to gain volunteer hours compared to their peers. For the second question, she stated, “This year, we faced some challenges, particularly due to the number of breaks we had. We only meet twice a month, with a week in between each meeting, which made it difficult at times. However, aside from that, I believe everything else went fairly well.” Despite the constant challenges of scheduling a date to meet, Monzur and the rest of the team were able to persevere through and make sure that the club, whenever possible, never gave up. For the last question, she said, “We organized several fundraisers, including a recent Valentine’s Day event where we raised $114. This money will go towards supporting people affected by the Los Angeles fires. Overall, I believe that personal growth involves recognizing the importance of charity and helping those in need. This is exactly why you (the reader) should join Charity Club and get some volunteer hours and give back to your community and people.” Monzur perfectly sums up the importance of her club and is transparent as to her club's intentions, giving back to the community and encouraging others who share similar interests to do the same. 

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As stated earlier, Afsara Monzur and her peers created this club as a way to give back to their community and the doors to the club are always welcome to new members. This club takes every other week (twice a month) on Tuesdays during lunch in Ms. Wilk’s room (Room 542) and if you’re someone who can’t attend clubs after school, then this club is perfect for you and your friends, being able to hang out with each other and having fun while still doing something meaningful for your community! In the words of Afsara Monzur “Get some volunteer hours and give back to your community and people” especially nowadays when the whole world seems to be going up in flames and all someone needs is a little support.