This is a printer friendly version of an article from www.thedailytimes.com
To print this article open the file menu and choose Print.
Article published Mar 12, 2009 Union Grove students raise money for humane society
By Matthew Stewart of The Daily Times Staff
Union Grove Elementary School's fourth-graders have organized the school's first service project and raised $342 for the Blount County Humane Society.
Students in Valarie Nichols' and Libby Myers' classes raised the money by selling more than 600 suckers in early February for Valentine's Day candy grams.
Sandy Studer, one of the school's teaching assistants, saw an article of a similar event in Ohio, Nichols said.
Many students enjoyed the project. "I thought it wasn't going to be fun until I learned I was going to be helping animals," said Katie Ditmore.
"It was actually pretty fun," added Lindsey Cooper. "It was fun selling them (suckers) -- even entertaining. It was also cool meeting new people."
Students sold candy grams before school and during lunch. Lindsey Morgan and a fellow student, for example, were stationed at the front door. "I thought it was pretty cool when parents would buy suckers for kids and they would put hearts, 'I love yous' and just write notes on the back," Morgan said.
The fourth-grade students later hole punched cards, tied them with strings to the suckers and delivered the candy grams on Feb. 12 to student recipients.
"We were doing deeds for people at school," said fourth-grader Joe Byrd.
"And little animals who need help," added Shane Campbell.
"The best part was delivering candy grams to people," said Cayleigh Millsapps.
"A lot of people have secret admirers," Campbell explained.
Humane Society's work
"We think they did a great job and we're honored they picked us," said Steven Phipps, founder and president of the Blount County Humane Society.
Phipps spoke Tuesday with students about how their money will be used to defray the cost of medical, food and basic supply expenses.
"It's really important to find homes for animals," Phipps said. "We want every animal in Blount County to have a home."
The organization has even saved pigs and recently rescued two baby goats, he added.
The Blount County Humane Society has recently opened All Creatures Thrift Store, located at 1005 East Broadway in Maryville, and all proceeds will be used by the humane society, Phipps said. The organization still needs land to build a no-kill shelter, he added.