The Wenatchee High School Key Club raised over $660 during their trick-or-treat fundraiser on Oct. 31 to go towards their efforts for the Eliminate Project.

Kiwanis International and the United Nation’s Children Fund have joined forces over the Eliminate Project to combat maternal and neonatal tetanus through education, outreach, and mass immunizations drives to even the most remote areas. Key Club is competing against Eastmont High School to see which school can raise the most money for the project.  Wenatchee’s final collection will be today Nov. 6.

Students started raising money through various activities, like self-fundraising and the trick-or-treat fundraiser where Key Club members went door to door gathering donations. On Oct. 27 (Make a Difference Day) Key Club members pumped gas at the Wenatchee Safeway for donations and raised more than $600. The club will be able to donate around $270 to the Eliminate Project and the rest of the amount Safeway will donate to its own charity of choice.

Whoever loses the competition has to make dinner and serve it to the winning team, but junior Key Club president Francesca Nevil isn’t worried about the competition. “We are going to win because we’re awesome,” said Nevil.

The competition is not the only new thing that Key Club is working on this year. The club has largely increased its membership participation. According to  junior vice president Teresa Bendito, there have been anywhere from 45 to 75 people per meeting.

“People wait outside the door to come into the meetings,” she said.

Nevil believes that Key Club is perfect for everyone. “It doesn’t matter what your interests are, we do a little bit of everything,” said Nevil.

Later in the year, Key Club will work with the Special Olympics as well as the Rock and Rollathon. Key Club meets after school on Wednesdays in math teacher Diane Owen’s room, 357.