Oakland’s first ShineOn Oakland Day was held July 28 and volunteers collected more than 150 boxes of cereal. The donations will be given to the Oakland Food Pantry, according to a news release from the ShineOnCass Foundation. The foundation partnered with the Town of Oakland’s summer festival Oakfest which, featured three days of community events including a street dance, farmer’s market, triathlon and a parade, where parade goers dropped boxes of cereal into shopping carts pushed by area students involved in ShineOnCass initiatives.

Monica Charette, who organized the event with foundation volunteers, said she hopes this will become an annual event to support the Oakland Food Pantry, local families in need and offer opportunity for children to participate in an activity that gives back to the community. The ShineOnCass Foundation also hosted Oakland Rocks, where children painted positive messages on more than 200 rocks to place in their community to help spread kindness. All who participated received “ShineOnCass Kindness Matters” wristbands.

The 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.