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OAKLAND — The ShineOnCass Foundation has launched a snack drive through the month of July to help fill the shelves of Oakland school food pantries. The “ShineOnCass Snack Drive” — part of Oakfest’s ShineOn Oakland Day — will collect donations of non-perishable, individually-packaged snacks to be distributed during the school year to local students in need.
Suggested ShineOnCass snack donations include peanut butter crackers, granola bars, water, Rice Krispies snacks, fruit gummies, animal crackers, applesauce cups, fruit cups, individual-serving popcorn, cereal, mac and cheese or other non-perishable, individually-packaged foods.
ShineOnCass Snack collection boxes will be at the 11-hour soccer game “Kick for Cass” Saturday, July 20, at Thomas College in Waterville and all weekend at Oakfest, Friday through Sunday, July 26, 27 and 28. Donations of snacks can also be dropped off at the Oakland Town Office, Camden National Bank in Oakland, or purchased and donated at Buddies Groceries in Oakland.
“We think the snack drive is a great opportunity for families to support other families in need, and a special way for kids to shine their own light by giving to others,” said ShineOnCass Executive Director Monica Charette.
The fifth annual Oakfest will feature three days of community events, including an outdoor family movie night, street dance, open air market and a triathlon. Saturday, designated “ShineOn Oakland Day” will welcome dozens of food vendors, Maine artists and crafters and community organizations from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at an open air market located at Williams Elementary School, 55 Pleasant St. The day will include live music as well as many children and family activities.
The ShineOnCass Foundation will also host its Kindness Matters Bookmark Project at Oakfest July 27, where kids can create ShineOnCass bookmarks with positive messages to leave in school and local libraries to help spread kindness. For more information about the ShineOnCass Snack Collection, Kindness Bookmark Project, or the foundation, visit shineoncass.org, or email shineooncass@gmail.com.
The ShineOnCass Foundation was created to honor the spirit, continue the work, and encourage others to live the legacy of Cassidy Charette, whose kindness and passion for others Shines On. Cassidy was a 17-year-old Messalonskee scholar and athlete, and a devoted community volunteer, who died in a hayride accident in 2014. The organization’s mission is to educate, inspire and empower youth to make their world a better place through kindness and volunteer charitable activities.
PHOTO: Students at Messalonskee Middle School create ShineOnCass Kindness Matters Bookmarks with positive messages to hide in the school’s library to help spread kindness. Children can create their own at Oakfest, as part of ShineOn Oakland Day, July 27. (Submitted photo)
