Saco Middle School (SMS) once again turned kindness into action as more than 600 students and 120 staff members participated in the school’s annual “Raise Craze” Kindness Day. On October 24th, SMS students and staff spread goodwill throughout the Saco community—writing notes of appreciation, volunteering their time, and lending helping hands as part of a month-long goal to complete 3,000 acts of kindness.
Students collaborated on dozens of projects designed to support and uplift local residents. From creating care packages for unhoused neighbors and baking treats for local nonprofits to cleaning Cascade Falls Trail with Saco Bay Trails and preparing classroom materials for younger students, each group contributed in meaningful ways. Other students delivered handmade thank-you cards to first responders, decorated community spaces for fall, and brightened the day of residents at local senior centers and the Maine Veterans Home.
“This event reminds our students how powerful kindness can be,” said Marie Soucy, principal of Saco Middle School. “It’s incredible to watch them come together, make a real difference, and feel connected to their community. I’m grateful to our PTO for making this day possible and for helping our students grow into compassionate, civic-minded young people.”
The Raise Craze fundraiser invites students to seek pledges from family and friends—not for laps run or items sold, but for acts of kindness completed throughout October. Last year, the school raised $9,800, which helped enhance outdoor spaces and student programming. This year, the PTO hopes to raise $10,000 to continue creating an outdoor learning area.
“This is truly about empowering students to see that even small acts can make a big impact,” said PTO President Emma Dausses. “It’s fundraising with heart—students receive pledges from their family and friends for a month-long focus on service, empathy, and gratitude.”
Teachers and students were able to rank their preferences, ensuring they were working on tasks that resonated with their personal interests. Some groups of students worked on one large project while other groups tackled multiple smaller projects, making the day a collaboration of effort and heart. Many students took on school-based projects, creating decorations, organizing supplies, and beautifying shared spaces.
The event was made possible through the generosity of local sponsors and partners. This year’s grade-level sponsor is Biddeford Saco Dental Associates & Orthodontics, with team-level sponsors including Jack Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Quang Nguygen - Edward Jones Financial Advisor, IRA Honda, Toyota, and Ford of Saco, and Biddeford Saco Rotary Club. Class-level sponsors include Atlantic Federal Credit Union, Bergen & Parkinson Attorneys, Bill Dodge Nissan, Dance with ME Maine, Dennis K. Burke, Inc., Front Street Designs, Hancock Lumber, MC Electric 207, North Sky Chiropractic, Peoples Choice Credit Union, Ready Seafood, Saco & Biddeford Savings, Saco Valley Credit Union, and Town & Country FCU, along with many local businesses that donated prizes for the school’s end-of-month celebration.
Students will continue tracking their acts of kindness through an online dashboard provided by Raise Craze, where they can see the collective impact of their efforts. A school-wide celebration will take place on October 24th to recognize teams and individual students for their contributions, with prizes going to those who complete the most meaningful acts of kindness, top fundraisers, etc. All of the prizes they earn will be donated by the community.
To pledge an act of kindness, visit an SMS student’s individual pledge page or go to the SMS School Page on Raise Craze at https://mhttps://my.raisecraze.com/give/axx9j3a9/. For more information about Saco Middle School’s PTO, email PTO President Emma Dausses at sacomiddlepto@gmail.com.
|
|
|
|
|
|
