Whiz Kids: St. James Students Give Back to Local Animals

Whiz Kid: Ashley Kovacs, Maryrose Ceccarelli, Anthony Guy, Billy Garrison, Ian Rodgers and Kevin Meurer.

Year: Sixth grade

School:

Key to Awesomeness:  Over the summer, six kids from the sixth grade class at St. James in raised $506 for Animal Friends.

Ashley Kovacs, Maryrose Ceccarelli, Anthony Guy, Billy Garrison, Ian Rodgers and Kevin Meurer sold lemonade during their summer break to supply Animal Friends, a no-kill shelter, with the necessities for the animals. This was the fourth year the children have donated their time and raised money for the shelter.

The children spent approximately 45 hours over the summer constructing a lemonade stand, making posters and lemonade, setting-up and tearing down and selling lemonade at the Wal-Mart in Robinson Township, the Sam's Club at Mt. Nebo Pointe and on the to the thirsty golfers.

School officials said the students worked together and had fun on some very hot, summer days.

"It was definitely worth all of the work," Ashley Kovacs said.

On Aug. 25, the children went to Animal Friends to present their earnings, and got to meet some of the animals that would benefit from their donation. Not only did they use their earnings to purchase , they sponsored the next animal coming into the shelter through the "Kind Kid" program. The program allowed the children to name the animal and help provide the vaccinations, flea prevention, microchip, spay/neuter surgery and daily care the animal needs to be ready to go to its forever home.

They also purchased a brick with all of their names for the shelter patio. Although it's difficult to see shelter animals, the children hope they will be adopted soon.

"I thought it felt awesome to be able to give back to animals who don't have an owner," Anthony Guy said.