Published: April 24, 2008 12:40 pm      

Bedford students help animals in need

By Sandra Benko-Presnell

sbenko@goodwilljohnstown.org

Through the 21st Century After-School program, area school students involved in service learning gave back to the community and gained a Furever experience.

In January, Bedford County After-School students began a project for the Bedford County Humane Society in support of its FUREVER Home campaign.

Students were given information about shelter animals, the Bedford County Humane Society and its role in Bedford County community.

Students then created posters to hang throughout their community asking for adoptive and/or foster families for animals at the shelter. Picture frames were made and put on the posters so the posters could always be reused by adding new pictures.

In addition, students made homemade dog and cat toys. When an animal is adopted, a toy is sent with the animal to the adoptive home.

Students from the Northern Bedford County School District went one step further. With assistance from their After-School coordinator, Sandra Johnson, students made homemade treats for the sheltered animals.

Students helped to mix the ingredients, roll the dough, form the treats and then bake the treats following an approved recipe.

To culminate the project, the humane society’s board members and animals available for adoption visited each site.

Members accepted the completed project from students and spent time talking about the humane society’s mission, the sheltered animals and volunteering.

The project may have come to an end, but the experience will live on Furever. Students will take what they have learned through theory and practice and, with initiative, create awareness in a community – service learning in its true form.



Sandra Benko-Presnell is Goodwill Industries of the Conemaugh Valley Inc. coordinator for Blair, Bedford and Huntingdon counties.