Royal Oak teen hosts fundraiser for The Salvation Army
15-year-old’s efforts will benefit Bed and Bread Club
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Is kindness contagious? That’s what Alec Cahaney of Royal Oak wants to know as the nation celebrates Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) Week, going on now through Feb.15.
Alec, 15, will spread the message of kindness locally with “R.A.K. Your World 2009,” a fundraising event for The Salvation Army Jr. Bed and Bread Club, scheduled for 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, at Clawson’s “A Step Outside of the Box” store, located at 29 S. Main Street.
Tickets are $5 at the door, and activities slated for the day include prize raffles, live music, games, crafts, food, hair beading and more.
Alec, a sophomore at Royal Oak High School, created “R.A.K. Your World” as a fundraiser for The Salvation Army’s Jr. Bed and Bread Club, an organization close to his heart. He made headlines last November with his “Mountains of Mittens” campaign, collecting more than 7,000 mittens and gloves for the Club. Read about his ride on The Salvation Army Bed and Bread truck at outsideofthebox.biz. Alec is even earning his varsity letter in community service this year for completing at least 600 hours of doing good – a first in Royal Oak High School history.
In addition to Saturday’s fundraiser, $10 “Random Acts of Kindness” kits are also available for purchase at the store itself, from noon to 7 p.m. now through Friday, Feb. 13. The kits include activity cards and project ideas for carrying out acts of kindness at home and beyond.
“The kit is packed with everything you need to commit acts of kindness meant to change someone else’s day for the better,” Alec said.
That could mean buying a stranger a cup of coffee, then leaving them a card suggesting they do the same.
“This is the perfect family adventure to share with kids of all ages,” he said.
The Salvation Army’s successful Bed and Bread program brings food, shelter and services to people in need within the community, providing them with basic needs and assisting them to get back on their feet. Through The Salvation Army facilities and off the Bed & Bread trucks, almost 5,000 meals are served each day to children, adults and seniors, 365 days a year. The program shelters 570 men, women and children each night.
Listen to Alec on the 22nd Annual Dick Purtan Radiothon Feb. 27, a joint effort by Dick Purtan and Purtan’s People, Oldies 104.3 WOMC and The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit. The Radiothon will broadcast live from the Oakland Mall in Troy from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. that Friday.
Founded by William Booth in London, England in 1865, The Salvation Army is a faith-based, non-profit organization dedicated to serving people in need without discrimination. At work in Michigan since 1887, The Salvation Army operates 180 facilities throughout the state. In 2007, these facilities were involved in providing more than 2.8 million meals and 770,314 nights of shelter for the homeless of Southeast Michigan alone. For more information about The Salvation Army, please call 877-SAL-MICH, or visit us at www.salmich.org.