First Grade Community Project: Love for Pets
Meadows Valley School students worked together to bring love to pets in the community this past month by running a supply drive for McPaws Regional Animal Shelter. The group of students included Terri Smith’s first graders and Tashia Kerby’s mentee group of ninth grade students. Contributors could bring items to the school for donation from February 3rd through 25th. The group learned about McPaws and how helping animals helps the community. Their drive brought in dog and cat food, cleaning supplies, and comfort items like toys and blankets. Students with their teachers visited McPaws on Tuesday, February 25th to deliver donations and read to cats.
Mrs. Smith said her class chose this project because they wanted to help animals and they knew McPaws is a great community resource. First grader Connel said, “We are helping McPaws out by giving them the things they need” and Braxton added, “It’s a fun activity and it’s fun helping out our community.” Boomer said, “We chose them because they need donations to help the animals.”
Secondary teacher Tashia Kerby said her 9th grade students became involved when they all agreed to do a service project involving animals. They asked the first graders if they could jump on board to help support McPaws. Freshman Jannette Montemira Flores noted that their project would help by giving things “that the shelter needs to take care of all the animals that don’t have homes.”
To prepare for the project, the group made posters and decorated donation boxes. 9th grader Mo Main helped with poster design and making announcements over the intercom during school. She said this project helps the community because, “happier animals mean happier people.” First grader Averie said, “We chose McPaws because we wanted to read to the cats and it’s a fun project to do.”
McPaws Shelter Manager Ashley Colglazier said school project donations help raise awareness that all local shelters need help in some capacity, “it also engages kids to think outside the box on how they can help too”. Colglazier noted that kitten season is around the corner and kittens are the most frequent type of animal brought in. The shelter is in need of KMR milk replacement powder, baby blankets, and kitten pate as well as specialized food, toys, and KONGS. Colglazier said all of these help the shelter team keep animals healthy and safe. Meadows Valley students helped bring in some of these very needed supplies.
During the student’s trip to McPaws, they visited with staff, dogs, and cats. First graders brought books with them and spent time cuddling and reading with cats. Naia said her favorite part of the project was “that we took a group picture and I felt very happy because the things we took up will help other people and animals.” Ella said she enjoyed that “we got to read to the cats and draw pictures of the cats” and Elijah said he would choose to do the project again “because we made the cats happy.” Rose’s favorite part “was that we got to give the people the stuff that we collected.” Ashur said, “My favorite part was reading to the cats and that made me super happy. It was my first time there.”
Students learned about McPaws efforts in the community including veterinary services and animal adoptions along with helping lost pets find their owners. Colglazier said community members who also want to help can make an impact by signing up to volunteer at the shelter. Opportunities include walking dogs, cuddling cats, and doing laundry or dishes. Interested people can visit mcpaws.org/get-involved/volunteer-program to start the process.
As first grader Patrick said, “We can help out animals in our community.” Congratulations to the Meadows Valley School first and ninth graders on their community contributions and a big “Thank you for your donations!” from the students to all who helped.
