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Each year the student council at Lemonweir Elementary School chooses an organization to donate the proceeds from its annual fundraiser.
This year, the student council, which is made up of fourth- and fifth-grade students, voted to use the money that was raised to donate to the Animal Shelter Construction Fund.
“In the past, the kids have donated money to aid children in Afghanistan and hurricane victims, and this year they wanted to do something with animals, and this is local,” Fourth grade teacher Natalie Divyak said of the students’ donation.
The students sold suckers for Valentines Day to other students at Lemonweir in February. Students sold the suckers over several days, and some students bought a few for themselves.
“We sold them for 25 cents to second and third graders,” fourth grader Ally Veasek said of the Valentines Day suckers. “We sold them during our lunch hour for four days. We sold them just to other students, and we could buy some for ourselves.”
After the fundraiser, the students voted on where to donate the proceeds. The students decided that they wanted to donate to a local organization, and when they found out about the Animal Shelter Construction Fund, the choice for most students was simple.
“We all thought of ideas and voted,” fourth grader Kirsten Kirschbaum said. “We all decided that we wanted a new animal shelter. I think the student council is proud that we are doing this.”
Nancy Reidy, who started the Animal Shelter Construction Fund in 2002, has been collecting funds through various activities since the organization began. A program was held in the Lemonweir gymnasium on Friday, and Reidy spoke to the children about her plan for a new animal shelter in Monroe County. Several children also shared stories and asked questions about their own pets, and showed support for the Reidy’s organization.
“We wanted a new shelter so we could hold more animals,” fourth grader Kaylee Grovesteen said.
Reidy started the Animal Shelter Construction Fund after the loss of a pet nearly six years ago. She was originally raising the funds to donate to the Monroe County Animal Shelter, but later felt the county was in need of a new shelter.
“They do a great job with the facilities they have at the current animal shelter,” Reidy said. “But we could do so much more.”
Reidy has plans for a new shelter. She is not sure where it will be built, and hopes to work with Monroe County on the project in the future. She said that construction of the new shelter she has planned would cost $300,000. She has already raised $200,000, and on Friday, the students of Lemonweir presented her with a $250 check.
“I am thrilled that the children care enough about animals to donate,” Reidy said. “I am honored, and I thank them deeply for caring about my cause.”
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