By Rebecca Wyatt Thomas, OU Web Writer

Last year, Raluca Szabo started looking for a way help the community. With a number of other students, Szabo unofficially founded Hand in Hand to help kids locally and around the world. This year, Hand in Hand is starting its first year as an official student organization.

Hand in Hand is devoted to helping children locally through work at homeless shelters and fundraisers and around the world through food and vitamin drives, orphanage support and also through work with the Michigan Save Darfur Coalition.

Szabo has already set up a number of events for the upcoming year.

On Oct. 16, which is World Hunger Day, Hand in Hand will collect meal plan donations to send to impoverished, undernourished children in a country of Hand in Hand’s choice. Those who stop by the table in the Oakland Center will be able to donate money for food, vitamins and other items and designate the donation in memory or honor of someone and mail them a special postcard.

During the holidays, Hand in Hand volunteers will take kids from the Pontiac Rescue Mission Homeless Shelter Christmas shopping at a local store.

During the winter semester, Hand in Hand will host Sudan/Darfu STEP UP Festival. Through a silent auction of celebrity autographs and other items, a garage sale and the Akwaaba African drum concert, Hand in Hand will raise funds for supporting the cause. Szabo hopes to include a “Lost Boys” documentary and possibly bring one of the Lost Boys as a speaker to campus.

“I hate to see any child suffer. To give a child a future and bring them happiness, there is no better feeling than that,” Szabo said.

For more information, or to get involved with Hand in Hand, contact the Center for Student Activities, 49 Oakland Center, at (248) 370-2400 or csa@oakland.edu.