The Guilford Lakes School Student Council has kept busy throughout the month of March, holding three different community service activities.

The first fundraising event was held March 15-a Zumbathon that raised approximately $2,000 for the Newtown Relief Fund in memory of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Students and staff participated in the hour-long event.

The second activity raised money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through the Pennies for Patients Program. The council ended up raising $1,550 for the organization-nearly double the amount of money collected last year through the children's efforts.

Student Council members are President Ryan Serpis, Vice President Maggie Bradley, Secretary Milo Heidkamp, Treasurer Thomas Ring, Historian Lauren Skoglund, Community Service Committee Chairman Moira Kellaher, Fundraising Committee Chairman Joey Cartier, and School Spirit Chairman Evan Ghoreyeb. The group's teacher advisor is Lori Luyckx.

"This is pretty special that the kids did these and they worked so hard," said Parent Advisor (and Selectman) Cynthia "Cindy" Cartier.

Student Council members were also very excited to raise this much money for such a great cause and said they feel honored to be part of a group that works to give back to the community.

"We asked and they responded, providing all their change and dollars. Our parents and teachers are really wonderful supporting our school," Kellaher stated in the press release.

"We have really great kids and parents at Lakes," said Heidkamp in the release. "It's like one big family."

"One more piece of the puzzle is that these kids had the final event of this month for the food bank and raised 220 cans," Cartier

The Student Council members partook in a fourth community service effort earlier this year, a Valentines for Veterans event, and also took part in the 120 Cans for 120 Days campaign for the Guilford Food Bank.

To learn more about these community service events and the Guilford Lakes School Student Council, call Cartier at 203-916-2430.