Helping others is key to UAIS club's mission

For the Key Club of Utica Academy for International Studies, “Caring is Our Way of Life” is more than just a slogan.

The nearly 100 student members continued a busy year of helping others by raising nearly $700 for homeless families. It is truly a way of life for a group that volunteers at senior citizen residences and elementary schools, raises funds for cancer research and supports assistance organizations throughout the world.

“I think because we are so internationally-minded, we see the need to reach out to people all over the world who have less than us,” said Key Club president Lisette LeMerise.

For their latest effort, the students sponsored a Barnes & Noble charity night, where they gift-wrapped books for store customers and earned a portion of sales. The funds went to support the Macomb County Rotating Emergency Shelter Team (MCREST), which assists homeless people in our area.