For the 12th consecutive year, Sousa held its Playthings for Pets drive to collect holiday toys and treats for dogs at the Town of North Hempstead shelter. For the ninth year, Colleen Lucie’s fourth graders spearheaded this service-learning project, collecting toys, rawhides, food, towels and more.
“I feel so proud that we helped so many pets in need,” said a student. “They now all have something to play with.”
A representative from the Shelter Connection, the volunteer organization that works with the town facility, met with students to share some of the many reasons pets end up in a shelter. Using photos of dogs currently waiting for adoption at the shelter, Lucie’s students created posters that advertised for donations and shelter pet adoption. At the end of the drive, the class welcomed animal control officer Nancy Morrie and shelter dog Napoleon, who accepted the school’s contributions.
Lucie said her class came away from the experience with a new view of community shelters and homeless pets.
“I thought it was an amazing feeling after I did it,” said another student. “It was a really good idea because you can help people, but you can also help pets in need.”
