Austin High School students are giving back in a new way this year.

The AHS Student Union is partnering with the Mower County Red Cross to raise money for the Red Cross’s Personal Care Shelf this year.

“Personal care items are something that goes unnoticed,” said Matt Lunning, AHS senior and Student Union officer. “You don’t really know how important they are until you don’t have any.”

AHS students can bring in money to their Connects next week, from Oct. 24 to Oct. 28. The Connect that raises the most money will receive an ice cream sundae party.

The Student Union is a new group at AHS this year, designed by Student Council and National Honor Society students to give students not in either group the opportunity to do fundraising and volunteer work.

Though the group doesn’t have set goals for this fundraiser, Lunning said officers will meet Wednesday morning to discuss broad goals for the charity. The county Red Cross chapter’s Personal Care Shelf helps more than 600 people a year in emergency situations, according to Executive Director Elaine Hansen.

“It’s great,” she said about the partnership. “What an exciting thing to have this program open to all the students at AHS get involved and make a difference.”