Medford Elementary's 'Pennies for Puppies' Drive a Huge Success

The 5th grade ESL classes at Medford Elementary School recently completed a week-long, school-wide fundraising campaign, "Pennies for Pets," for animals displaced by Hurricane Sandy.

Last Friday, Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine visited Christine Pearsall’s class at the school to accept a donation of $434 for the Brookhaven Animal Shelter and Adoption Center.

Pearsall said the project was "tremendously successful."

"The students used Publisher to make flyers, drew posters and wrote announcements that they read daily over the school's intercom, all in an effort to encourage their schoolmates to contribute any change they might have to the cause," Pearsall said.

"The project served to teach the kids academics (persuasive writing), civic responsibility, and community service, as well as to empower all Medford Elementary students to contribute in their own way, without the assistance of adults," she added. 

The money donated will be used for medical supplies at the animal shelter.

 “I thank the students at Medford Avenue Elementary School for their generous donation to help the animals at the shelter stay healthy," Romaine said. "What makes this so special is that these children did it on their own by asking their classmates, teachers, friends and family members to open their hearts and make a difference.”

Brookhaven Councilwoman Jane Bonner, who serves as the Town Board liaison to the animal shelter said: “It’s wonderful to see what children can do when they put their minds to it, especially when it’s for animals. Thanks to these kids, many animals needing medical care can be helped.”