THUNDER BAY - After learning about the many endangered species around the world, students at one local school decided it was time to take action.
Grade 2 French immersion students at École Gron Morgan Public School raised $510 to help local animals, as well as adopting six critically endangered animals through the World Wildlife Organization.
“We’ve been learning about animals for the last couple of months,” said Rhea Lofstrum, the grade 2 French immersion teacher. “The kids were very emotional and upset when they heard how many animals are endangered as they found out that many of the animals were the animals they grew up idolizing and reading about in books and seeing in movies.”
The students held two fundraisers this year that included a school raffle of animal paintings and cards.
“After many discussions and conversations, they decided they wanted to raise some money to help both local animals as well as animals in different countries and different parts of the world,” Lofstrum said.
On Tuesday, half of the money raised was presented to Kristine Barr, a volunteer with Paws for Love Dog Rescue.
“It’s awesome to get the schools involved and to get the awareness out with the dog rescues so they can see how they can help out locally with these rescues and to let them know that these dogs need homes and donations and even just love,” Barr said.
As a way of thanking the kids for all their hard work and dedication, Barr and other volunteers from Paws for Love brought along a few four-legged friends to school for a visit.
“They approached us to say they had a donation for us,” Barr said. “Of course we are excited, so we said why don’t we surprise the kids and bring some puppies. And we brought our adult Buddy who is a bit of our celebrity, so we just had to bring Buddy, and really show the kids our appreciation and let them hold them and get them excited about the whole event.”
Both Lofstrum and Barr said they were blown away by the kid’s passion for the project, going beyond the classroom to help make a difference in the community and the world.
“The kids themselves have been really interested and curious and wanting to learn more,” Lofstrum said. “There’s been a lot of great discussions and a lot of classroom research and research done at home. They have been very passionate, very emotional about everything they have been learning. It’s been great to see them get out and want to help and come up with different ways they want to help and make a difference in the community.”
