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Junior Volunteers
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"When we least expect kindness and generosity, both can walk through our doors in the form of young people." Sandy, CHS Staff Member It is heartening for us at CHS to see the dedication so many of the young people in our community have for animals in need. We want to show you some of the imaginative things these young people are doing to help, let you meet these young folks, and also say a public "Thank-you!" to them. They offer helping hands today and a bright light into tomorrow! |
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Kailyn Braley has spent the last three months collecting funds for the Coastal Humane Society. When she entered our lobby she came with an entourage of children from the Small Wonders Day Care. This young lady has charm, style, and humility and represented Small Wonders with panache. With her little red cash box bank full, she stated she had counted $29.06 she wished to donate to help our canine and feline residents. We recounted and discovered she had actually collected $32.39! Kailyn is too young to volunteer within our shelter facility yet she found a way to make a difference in our care of stray animals. She carried a torn pink sheet of paper asking if we could throw it away for her. My curiosity got the best of me and I reassembled it. This is what she had typed: Dear parents, We are taking donations for the Coastal Humane Society. Any donations would help. Thank you for your contribution. If the animals could talk they would be thanking you too. The Day Care At the bottom of her note, Kailyn had inserted a sweet graphic of a kitten. Well, Kailyn, a loving "meow" and "arf arf" from our felines and canines. They do thank you as well as all those who answered your request for donations. Kailyn has three dogs and a cat of her own at home and still finds time to assist her parents at the day care they have owned for over sixteen years. We imagine her gentle demeanor and soft voice are a calming and welcome influence around the children she watches. |
A walking cloud of sweetness in a lilac summer dress with purple stripes gave us $32.09 today. She took out of her little red purse a wad of bills and dumped some change onto the counter. Her ponytailed curls bounced as her deep brown eyes stole our hearts. She is five-and-a-half year old Myah and she is our newest precious treasure. Brother Dakota came with Myah hoping mom would allow them to add a kitten to their family of two turtles (Dimitri and Rose), a cat (Sebastian), a golden retriever (Brady the Brat), and a golden/black lab (Abby the Bibbiduce). This is an animal loving family! Myah says, "I would put in $1,000! I want a kitten so bad!" When asked where she got the idea to collect money for us,Myah and her mom mentioned the donation cans that can be found at the cash registers of local businesses who support our cause. We were so pleased that this little sweetheart of a girl would take note and act with such kindess. Thank you, Myah. |
On July 23 nine-year-old Gabrielle visited our shelter with her mom and her brother with gifts for our feline and canine residents. She had invited six friends to her birthday celebration asking them to think of us rather than bringing gifts for the birthday girl. Those friends as well as Gabrielle and her brother Graydon donated baby food, a fifty pound bag of quality dog food, pineapple and octopus-shaped cat toys, a play-and-squeak mouse, and biscuits as well as a cash donation. Gabrielle and Graydon enchanted us with stories of Frodo their dog and Pippin their cat. We loved their vitality! Gabrielle will be riding in a two-day bike ride to raise money for the MS Society. She and her brother have gone door to door in order to raise money for the cause as well as awareness of others about the disease. She has volunteered on several occasions at a local soup kitchen. She has ridden to raise money for the Bicycle Coalition of Maine and has helped out with a team in India helping village people. Gabrielle wants to be a veterinarian some day. We know she'll be a dynamite physician. |
It is a sticky Saturday afternoon with the sun shining brightly through the windows at Coastal Humane Society. Through our doors enter four rays of sunshine in their own right. Four pre-teens ran a lemonade stand and sold popcorn in the heat of a Friday afternoon. Teresa, Corrinne, Michael, and Jack spent from 4 P.M. to 6:30 P.M. yesterday selling their wares and collecting for us and for our animals. They created a sign indicating all proceeds from their sale would be donated to our cause. Then they watched each fifty cent cup of lemonade turn into a dollar or two or more. They ended their early evening with $32.75 which they delivered to us each bill neatly folded in a sandwich bag. Teresa and Jack are neighbors to Corrinne and Michael. Each family has a dog. Each family is surely an animal supporter. Each family deserves to be proud of these young folks. Thank you to our newest Junior Volunteers. |
Brunswick is a great place to live. It's a great place to raise children. Three of our young citizens entered the Coastal Humane Society on Friday, May 10 as representatives of the Student Council at a local elementary school. With first grade teacher Lori Peters accompanying them, grade 5 students Kaia and Matthew and grade 4 student Christopher presented us with 240 food-related items for our resident canines and felines collected by students in grades 1 - 5. In support of National Pet Week, these students held a school Pet Day on May 4th showcasing photos of their own pets. Together they created a large collage for their school lobby. As a way of reaching out to their community, they chose Coastal Humane Society as beneficiary of their generosity with the donation of such a large amount of food for our residents. We were impressed with the vivacity of these three Student Council members and suspect they are representative of the best of Brunswick's young citizens. Thank you to all students, to these three reps, to their advisor Mrs. Peters, and to all the teachers who supported this effort. We are proud to acknowledge your generosity. |
