The fifth-grade students at St. Peter’s School organized a fundraiser to benefit the Guide Dog Foundation that began during Catholic School’s Week in January. The class held two presentations to educate St. Peter’s students about the organization and its good works. A volunteer from the foundation, along with her guide dog-in-training, spoke to the students about how guide dogs help visually impaired individuals live without boundaries and fears.
This fundraiser will be ongoing over the next three years. The class has a goal to raise $6,000 so St. Peter’s can sponsor and name a guide dog. If they reach their goal, the current fifth graders will be selecting the name for the dog.
The class has started fundraising and has already held several fundraising events. From now until the end of the school year, the fifth graders will be holding several more events to raise money toward the goal.
“So far we raised $2,750,” said Merilee Lehmuller, fifth-grade teacher at St. Peter’s. “We raised the money by having a basket raffle during Catholic Schools Week, selling carnations the week before Valentine’s Day and collecting donations after Sunday Masses. We also received two major private donations. Our goal is to reach $6,000 within the next three years so St. Peter’s can sponsor and name a guide dog. We going to try and seek out other private donations from companies as well so we can reach our goal.”
Online individual donations can be made using the Guide Dog Foundation link located on the school website. Check donations can be made payable to the Guide Dog Foundation and sent to the school’s main office.
The Guide Dog Foundation, founded in 1946, is located in Smithtown, and its official mission is to improve the quality of life for people who are blind, visually impaired or with other special needs. For more information about the organization, go to www.guidedog.org or go to St. Peter’s School website at www.stpeterspw.org. St. Peter’s is located at 1321 Port Washington Blvd.
