Medfield Dale Street School students are raising funds for a North Carolina animal shelter destroyed by Hurricane Helene. (Photo courtesy Medfield Public Schools) 
Medfield Dale Street School students are raising funds for a North Carolina animal shelter destroyed by Hurricane Helene. (Photo courtesy Medfield Public Schools)
MEDFIELD — Superintendent Jeffrey Marsden and Principal Steve Grenham are pleased to share that Dale Street School students are collecting donations for Brother Wolf Animal Rescue in Asheville, North Carolina after it was destroyed during Hurricane Helene.
Since they began collecting spare change donations on Oct. 15, the fourth- and fifth-grade students involved have raised close to $1,000 for the cause. The last day donations will be accepted is Oct. 29.
The 400 students involved have been collecting donations from family and friends after author Barbara O’Connor shared that the shelter needed them. O’Connor currently resides in North Carolina. Formerly a Massachusetts resident, she was an Author-in-Residence at Dale Street School for over a decade.
O’Connor shared, “I am an animal lover, through and through, and they are all suffering so much.”
Since hearing from O’Connor, students have been providing support by gathering donations, which they have collected in large water jugs they decorated to look like animals.
“The students have shown dedication to this cause since they began working on it,” Dale Street School fifth-grade teacher Bethany Sager said. “Their hard work in advertising this project and collecting donations has paid off, as they have raised approximately $800 in spare change to donate to Brother Wolf Animal Rescue. I am proud that they took this on and have achieved their goal of providing help to a shelter that needs to rebuild after the hurricane. It’s so important for students to see how much can be achieved when a community works together.”
The student council has been raising awareness for their efforts by promoting their cause during the morning newscast at school, creating posters and providing Principal Grenham with information to include in his weekly blog for family and community members.
Students have also taken it upon themselves to raise money in the community. Three fourth-grade students recently collected donations at a soccer tournament, where they raised $110.
“I am very proud of all the students involved in this effort to help Brother Wolf Animal Rescue,” Principal Grenham said. “They have shown empathy and strong leadership by taking the initiative to promote their cause and collect these donations. They have done a great job raising awareness and making a real difference in the lives of people and animals outside their own community.”
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