The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, November 1, 2013 | 6 Editorial Give away a smile today The point is to get involved. When you do, you may nd you like it; the rewards are many, it feels good. And you're doing something productive that will have a lasting effect on someone else. Like a smile, a Random Act of Kindness (RAK) may be simple and inexpensive, yet the most powerful, richest gift anyone can bestow on another. When someone makes us feel a little more than a face in the crowd -- special -- it can resonate in our heart for a long time, if not forever. Today (Nov. 1) is Random Acts of Kindness Day in Oakville. It is promoted within the community by the Oakville Community Foundation (OCF). While some wonder if such a day is really needed ­ if good manners should not already be hardwired into our behaviour -- it's about more than a positive code of conduct. It's a reminder there is always someone in need of support. Sometimes it's us. Other times, a neighbour, friend or family member. It's a reminder we do have room in our busy lives to do a little more -- and that the rewards are greater than we ever expected. An act of kindness can be as simple as saying `thank you' or as involved as volunteering for a charity -- either way, it builds goodwill and community. That's the message the OCF wants spread. Random Acts of Kindness grew out of the U.S. around 1990, when a lot of violence was taking place. A California professor and a group of his students, were tired of hearing about the random acts of violence and decided to turn it around and do random acts of kindness. It is now a movement that has spread throughout North America and beyond. Oakville is already a great place to live, but it could always be better. According to OCF of cials, the purpose of the day is three-fold -- to highlight the acts of kindness around our town, to get people out of their comfort zone and look for ways to be kind to others, and to retain our excellent town spirit. Students have been challenged to come up with ideas. Businesses are also involved. Residents of all walks of life are urged to join the movement. Teams are spreading out throughout the town today to do random acts of kindness. Some are handing out owers, others a free coffee. Others are supporting a charitable cause. Still others will show kindness to a senior, a parent, a neighbour. Many will record their effort with the OCF , likely many more will just do something nice for someone. OCF organizers are asking those who participate to share their experiences using the hashtag #RAKOAKVILLE on Twitter (@OakvilleCF), Facebook (Oakville Community Foundation), and Instagram (@ OakvilleCF). For more information on how to get involved on RAK Day, visit http://goo.gl/mTQ6IB. Let's all put our thinking cap on and nd a way to show kindness, big or small, to someone else -- today and every day. "Connected to your Community" Letters to the Editor 447 Speers Road, Oakville ON, L6K 3S4 General Inquiries: (905) 845-3824 Editorial Department: (905) 632-0588 Classi ed Advertising: (905) 632-4440 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 Volume 51 | Number 131 The Oakville Beaver is a division of Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Vice ­President and Group Publisher of Metroland West Regional General Manager Halton Region Editor in Chief Advertising Director NEIL OLIVER DAVID HARVEY JILL DAVIS DANIEL BAIRD Managing Editor ANGELA BLACKBURN RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director Business Manager Director of Production SANDY PARE MARK DILLS Volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Halton's Homework Club at St. Andrew Catholic School with John Nunnikhoven and Lisa Crosby of Glenn Graydon Wright LLP . The rm donated $1,000 to help purchase school supplies needed by the club. | submitted photo MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager Director of Distribution CHARLENE HALL KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager Homework Club gets a boost from legal team One of the most popular Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton (BBBSH) mentoring programs is The Homework Club. It currently runs in 12 elementary schools within Oakville. Each club matches 16 students one-to-one with a volunteer mentor. The Homework Club philosophy supports student-centred individualized learning. This type of learning allows for students' individual needs and goals to be met as they do their own lessons with the help of the volunteer mentor. Students bring their homework to the session and actively contribute to their own learning. The mentor provides guidance and assistance as necessary, keeping in mind that students have different learning styles and will progress at different rates. Recently, the club at St. Andrew Catholic School was visited by John Nunnikhoven and Lisa Crosby from Glenn Graydon Wright LLP . Glenn Graydon Wright made a generous donation of $1,000 to help purchase school supplies needed at each club. Volunteering to be a Homework Club mentor is a great way for high school students to earn their 40 community hours. Program Manager Anne-Marie Doherty comments, "it is not uncommon for a student to begin volunteering with us in Grade 9 in order to earn community hours but enjoying the experience so much they stay all four years of high school." While there are openings at all schools, St. Michael, St. James and St. Joseph are all actively seeking volunteers. Adult volunteers are also welcomed. To get more information on volunteering or The Homework Club, call Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton at 905-339-2355 or www. bbbshalton.ca. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton is proud to be supported by United Way. Susan Coyne Resource Development Manager, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton Proud Official Media Sponsor For: Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association Proud Official Media Sponsor For: The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to: The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville ON, L6K 3S4, or via e-mail to; ablackburn@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline.