Officially kicking off the CombiniBakes Community Project, we have our first baker, Abby Li, representing charity organization Class Gift, a student-led student giving campaign for the University of St Andrews, that raises money for accommodation bursaries through the Wardlaw Programme. Abby is currently a second year Art History and Philosophy student and her matcha lemon bars have been a fantastic addition to the cafe! We spoke to Abby about her initiative.
Hi Abby, we are so glad to have you onboard, providing yummy baked goods while also raising awareness for Class Gift. Can you tell us a bit more about your charity organization and what your role is?
Class Gift is a committee of students who run the student giving campaign for the university. Our goal is to help all students to be able to have the same education that we are so fortunate to have by raising money for the bursary fund. The cost of living in St Andrews has never been greater, so this year we have decided to raise money for accommodation bursaries. The cost of accommodation should never be a deterrent in one’s studies, which is why we as a committee have decided to focus our efforts in making affordable housing more accessible.
Apart from selling your lemon matcha bars at CombiniCafé, what other fundraising initiatives is Class Gift currently involved in? How can people get more involved to help support the cause?
Our last event for this semester will be our Blendworks Gin Blending Class on 28 November, but we have some other exciting events in the works for next semester so be sure to follow us on Facebook to keep up to date!
This year we have also decided that, since our goal is to raise money in the best interests of the students and not through executive order of the committee, we would like to enfranchise the students by holding an election to decide where our total for next year will go towards. So be on the lookout for an opportunity to exercise your suffrage!
We are also always looking for new people to work with, so if you have any more inquiries, suggestions or would just like to know more about what Class Gift does, please contact us as classgift@st-andrews.ac.uk or message us on Facebook!
We would also love to hear more about other societies you’re part of or just your hobbies in general, is there anything in particular you’d like to share with us?
I also write for an art history website called Sartle. If you would like to read about demerits of dairy in Dutch still-life portraiture, the OG top model whose use of a flattering angle and smize (coined by Banks on America’s Next Top Model, the seminal modeling reality TV show competition which produces future “personalities” whose careers are based off making “appearances”) rivals Tyra herself or costumes that require just a bed sheet, Sartle is the website for you!
Society-wise, I am also on the Charities Campaign committee and we are holding a wreath-making workshop and a football tournament on 3 December! All proceeds will go towards the three nominated charities for this year, Women for Women, the Campaign Against Living Miserably and the Yard. Everyone is a member of the Charities Campaign committee through its affiliation with the Union, so there are a multiplicity of ways to get involved.
To get an email from me every Tuesday, sign up for the mailing list on our website here. If you have any more questions or would like to speak to someone about the Charities Campaign, email me at usacc@st-andrews.ac.uk or come to our convener Frankie Borderie’s office hours from 3-5 every Tuesday in Main Bar to learn more!