The Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) club at Aliso Niguel High School is one of the many clubs found on campus. The club is led by President Jayden Tang (11) and his Vice Presidents, Shyla Garg (11) and Matthew Vo (11).
The club meets monthly in portable nine or Mrs. Wright’s classroom to plan and organize community service events that spread positivity throughout the community. The club bases its principles on the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation (RAKF) which it derives from.
“I wanted to create a space where students could come together to do something positive and meaningful. I felt like there needed to be a club that focused on spreading kindness and making people feel supported,” says Jayden.
The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation bases its principles on the importance of building compassion and community. As of the latest update, there are approximately 228,679 members in the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation and members span from all 50 states and 89 countries. And most importantly, the foundation has celebrated Random Acts of Kindness Day on Feb. 17 since its start in 1995.
One member of the RAKF, Sunny Goodwin says, “ Being a RAKtivist means more than doing kind things—it’s about being part of a global community that believes kindness can shift the culture of our world. Every small act adds up and together we are proof that compassion is contagious. I don’t just spread kindness—I live it, and I know I’m not alone.”
Since the start of the RAK club, the club at ANHS has put together many different service activities that really made a difference in our local community. Back in November, the members of RAK helped pack meals for community distribution to those who needed it, helping to provide nutritious meals and kindness during the holiday season. Similarly, the club also helped set up a volunteer event at Mary’s Kitchen Pantry where students helped sort and give out food to those in need.
Jayden states, “I was inspired by the idea that even small acts can make a big difference. Our club is inspired by the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation and follows its mission of making kindness the norm. We use their ideas as motivation for our own projects. So far, we’ve packed meals for the community in November and volunteered at Mary’s Kitchen Pantry, where we helped with food distribution and service.”
In addition to in-person meetings and service work, the RAK club maintains an active social media presence. The club’s Instagram page, @rakclubanhs, is used to share upcoming volunteer opportunities, as well as to make posts dedicated to highlighting past events and acts of kindness done by the club members. The account helps keep students informed and helps to encourage participation in ways to help the local area.
As the school year continues, the Random Acts of Kindness club will continue to remain consistent with its support and opportunities for the local community.
