Media Release

For Immediate Release

February 28, 2008

Students RAK up clothes and food for FEED

The Random Act of Kindness (RAK) Squad at Saint Mary’s is at it again.

On Saturday, March 8, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, student volunteers from this active organization will conduct a food and clothing drive in the south end of Halifax.

“We are really looking forward to getting out and meeting the neighbours and of course making a difference for those in need,” says Laura Slauenwhite, Volunteer Coordinator for the RAK Squad.

“The RAK Squad is a group of students from SMU who perform good deeds all over Halifax. These student volunteers can be seen out and about in there bright orange t-shirts and maroon hats, making peoples day with contagious smiles. The RAK squad currently has over 65 members and it grows after every event,” she adds.

The RAK Squad has had a busy year.

They partnered with charity events to make an impact both locally, as well as internationally. Acting locally, the RAK Squad participated in the Chronicle Herald’s Raise a Reader event in early October, helping to raise more than $7,000.00 towards family literacy programs throughout Nova Scotia. Other events include Bowling for Critters, which was a fundraising event for the Bide-A-While Shelter, visits to nursing homes, and free hot chocolate give-a-ways during the winter months.

On an international scale, some events RAK participated in are: UNICEF’s Spread the Net Campaign, raising funds for mosquito nets for children in Africa; Canfar’s Have a Heart Campaign, promoting AIDS awareness, and St. Valentine’s Day Hair Massacure, with proceeds going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

This year, Saint Mary’s University will be celebrating International RAK week from Monday, February.25- Saturday, March.1. During this time, the RAK squad will be serving at local soup kitchen’s, having a craft day at Inglis Street School, raising funds for the CIBC’s Boys in Red Trust Fund.

This group of enthusiastic students would like to encourage anyone interested to get involved with this group or to begin their own random acts of kindness.

The RAK Squad is a joint project of the Pride In Our Shared Neighborhood Committee and Saint Mary’s University Students’ Association (SMUSA).

For more information, or to join, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator, Laura Slauenwhite by email at laura.slauenwhite@smu.ca, or by phone at 496-8707.

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For More Information:

Paul Fitzgerald
Public Affairs Officer
Saint Mary's University, Public Affairs
(902) 420.5514
E-mail: paul.fitzgerald@smu.ca
www.smu.ca