Monday, December 8, 2008 9:25 PM CST
Students collect donations for animal shelter
By DAVE FOPAY, Staff Writer
dfopay@jg-tc.com
CHARLESTON — After third-graders at Carl Sandburg Elementary School learned about proper pet care and how the local animal shelter operates, they decided to try to help both.
And a local business joined in on the students’ effort to help the Coles County Animal Rescue and Education Center and encourage people to adopt animals from the shelter. The school’s third-grade classes are taking donations of pet care items and money to benefit the shelter.
“We thought it would be a great way for the children to learn early that pets are a responsibility,” teacher Kathy Miller said.
Whatever the students collect, up to $1,500 in money and supplies, will be matched by the Petropics pet store of Charleston. Owners Mike and Denise Corray have two children who attend Carl Sandburg, and they wanted to help because they’re familiar with the shelter and what it does, Mike Corray explained.
“We thought it was our chance to step up to the plate and kind of lead the way,” he said.
Miller said Tamara Albin, the veterinarian who serves as the shelter’s administrator, spoke to Carl Sandburg’s third-grade classes in October. Children are always interested in pets, Miller added, and that led to the idea of showing the students how they can get involved in their community.
Pet supplies that are collected will go to the shelter and be offered to people who adopt animals. Money raised will be used to buy a cat climbing tower, and if any’s left after that, the school will ask the shelter how it wants it spent, Miller said.
“These are things they need all the time,” she said.
Shelter Manager Julie Deters said the effort will not only benefit the shelter but the students themselves.
“It’s wonderful when students, parents get involved, especially teaching responsible pet ownership,” she said. Deters said the shelter already offers packs of pet supplies to people who adopt animals to “get them off on the right foot,” and added that the students buying a cat climbing tower “would be wonderful.”
Miller said she thinks the school can “easily make” the $1,500 maximum for the Petropics match. She said her class took the number of students and teachers at the school and figured out that each person had to donate an average of $2.50 to meet the mark.
Corray said he’ll let the shelter decide how it wants to handle what the store donates, and he might set up an account for the shelter to use to get items from the store. He said the animal shelter couldn’t function without donations and volunteers, and he thinks anyone who’s visited the facility can see the need.
Miller said the students have already received food bowls, leashes, pet toys and other items. They’re not taking pet food other than small packages of treats, and haven’t received many brushes yet, she said.
The students plan to collect the donations until Dec. 19, the last day of attendance before Christmas break. Anyone who wants to donate can contact the school by calling 639-4000 or visiting it at 1924 Reynolds Drive. Corray said donations can also be made at Petropics, 626 W. Lincoln Ave.
Contact Dave Fopay at dfopay@jg-tc.com or 348-5733.
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lojack wrote on Dec 8, 2008 1:54 PM: