Kaler School Third Graders Help Abused Horses
On September 24th MSSPA volunteer Emma McCann traveled to South Portland on behalf the “Aid for Abused Horses” project. Emma and her mother are volunteering their talent and time to help run a donation can route in local shops and businesses. All the funds raised go directly to the care of the rescued horses and other animals living at the MSSPA. When Kaler School teacher Mrs. Shelly Alfiero learned about Emma’s community service work to benefit abused or neglected animals, she saw a chance for her students to help themselves by helping others.
Mrs. Alfiero contacted the MSSPA and invited Emma to come to the Kaler School and talk about the work she is doing. Emma was greeted by many colorful posters made by the Kaler School third graders. The staff and teachers at the school were all very interested in the project, too. Emma told the students about the work done at the MSSPA and brought along before and after pictures of some of the horses for everyone to see. The students were surprised to see how thin and sad the horses looked. They asked questions about how the horses got to be so hungry and dirty. Emma explained that horses and other animals require lots of food, water, and medical care as well as love every day.
Emma brought along some examples of the decorated coffee cans she makes that are placed in shops and stores, where people can drop in coins or bills to help the animals. Emma, with the help of her mother, visits the stores every two weeks to collect the money, put out fresh cans, and thank store owners for their help. All the money is given to the MSSPA and goes directly to caring for the horses and other animals.
Mrs. Alfiero’s students are participating in a year long project called “Healthy Happy Kaler Kids Helping Others.” The children are now collecting coffee cans and decorating supplies to transform the plain containers into eye-catching collection cans to be placed in participating stores. Staff from New England’s largest horse rescue identify stores willing to host a donation can; Mrs. Alfiero takes on the tasks of putting the cans into the shops and periodically collecting the money, and then works with her students to set up and keep a simple spreadsheet showing the amount of money donated in the cans..
If you would like to help abused horses by participating in the “Aid for Abused Horses” project, please contact MerisBickfordMSSPA@roadrunner.com or call the MSSPA at 207-892-3040. The MSSPA is a tax-exempt, 501(c) (3) and receives no federal, state or local funding. The Society is entirely funded by membership dues, donations, bequests, grants, and fund-raising activities. The Society does not charge for its services and seeks no reimbursement from any public source. The MSSPA provides more than one million dollars in services, annually, to the taxpayers of Maine, and salvation to abused animals. FMI, visit the website www.msspa.org