Rachel McCarthy is asking her hometown to help make a positive difference in the lives of those struggling with pediatric cancer.

The Stonehill College junior and Nahant native currently serves as the president of her school’s Pinky Swear Club, which raises money to support families that have children who have been diagnosed with cancer.

The Pinky Swear Foundation is a national nonprofit that was founded in honor of Mitch Chepokas, a 9-year-old with osteosarcoma who decided to give his own money to the patients on the pediatric oncology floor of his hospital. Before his death, he made his father “pinky swear” to continue helping children with cancer and their families.

McCarthy was drawn to her school’s branch of the foundation immediately, and credits her history of community involvement with preparing her to take on this leadership role.

“Growing up in Nahant, my mom always had me involved in community politics, whether it was selectman campaigns, holding signs for people, or helping with the fireworks fundraiser for the Fourth of July,” McCarthy said. “I’ve volunteered my whole life at My Brother’s Table in Lynn. I’ve always just sort of been interested in volunteer opportunities.”

McCarthy is taking the lead for the first time as president for the club’s Super Bowl Square Fundraiser, which has raised more than $2,000 so far. She reached out to residents of both Nahant and Swampscott through social media and expressed gratitude for their support so far.

“Having so many connections in Nahant and Swampscott, I’ve been really successful posting on the Nahant Facebook page and the Swampscott Facebook page,” McCarthy said. “People have been very generous.”

McCarthy recalled a fundraiser she took part in last year called Cancer is Messy, in which donors also created paintings that were sent to Pinky Swear’s All-Star of the month, a child selected to be a special beneficiary of the charity’s activities.

“It is truly an amazing feeling to know that you’re putting your time and energy into something good,” McCarthy said. “It just really makes me happy to do something like this.”

McCarthy is studying health science and speech language pathology with the hope of becoming an occupational therapist. Squares can be purchased for $10 by sending a payment to @Rachel_McCarthy1 on the Venmo app.