Christmas carols filled the room and cookies, brownies and other goodies filled the tables in the St. Aloysius library Tuesday as members of the Interact Club at St. Aloysius prepared to play host to a special group of visitors.

The Interact Club, which is sponsored by the Vicksburg Rotary Club, is an organization for students ages 12 to 18, to help them develop leadership skills while doing community service programs as part of the Rotary motto of service over self.

The club was organized this school year, faculty advisor Ginny Jarratt said.

“The students were looking for a project to do, so I held a meeting with my board and they decided to hold a Christmas party for Jacob’s Ladder,” she said.

Club president Madison Powell said the influence for the party came from the experience the students had with Jacob’s Ladder in the past, adding she and club vice president Ryan Jarratt have volunteered with the organization.

“Ryan and I have both volunteered for Camp Silver Cloud in the summer, and Ryan has volunteered with Jacob’s Ladder during the year,” she said. “We thought having a Christmas party was a good idea, because they don’t get out a lot, and we don’t get a chance to see them very often. It gives them a chance to see us again and for us to see them.”

Teacher Rebecca Busby said the party was not the first time Jacob’s Ladder has partnered with St. Aloysius.

“We’ve partnered in the past with Jordan Amborn’s classes,” she said. “We’ve had Valentine’s Day parties, they had a treasure hunt and another time they sang karaoke. Now we’re partnering with Ginny Jarratt’s students.”

Busby said events like the Christmas party and other activities are good for the Jacob’s Ladder students because it give them an opportunity to get out and do different activities.

“They have friends and family members who attend St. Aloysius, so it gives them a chance to spend time with friends and family and practice their social skills when they come here for a program.”