Trip to Augusta to meet the Governor
On Tuesday, May 5th, 21 second graders from the Windham Primary School were presented with a legislative sentiment by the Maine Senate commending their kindness to animals in working together to raise nearly $1,000 for the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals.
Senator Bill Diamond (D-Cumberland County), sponsor of the sentiment, Representative Mark Bryant (D-Windham) and Representative Gary Plummer (R-Windham) met with the students of Mrs. Kelly Rich's class at the State House. The children also had the opportunity to meet with Governor John Baldacci, to tell him about the many abused or neglected animals rescued by Maine law enforcement agents and placed at the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals (MSSPA) in Windham.
"The students in Mrs. Rich's class have shown such great compassion for the abused and neglected animals that are cared for by the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals," Senator Diamond said. "I am tremendously proud of these children. Mrs. Rich was very instrumental in this successful project and I want to thank her for her personal effort."
In late 2008, following a field trip to the MSSPA farm, the students and their families raised nearly $1,000 for Society animals. The non-profit MSSPA, which functions as Maine's largest animal shelter, is a public charity and receives no public funding. All of the organization's more than one million-dollar annual budget must be raised each year.
During the time spent in his office, Governor Baldacci asked the children how they managed to raise so much money. The students replied that they had collected bottles, done extra chores at home, a Brownie Scout Troop held a bake sale, and with help from local screen printer Bob Baiguy, owner of Bob the Screen Printer in Windham, they made and sold their own tie-dyed MSSPA T-shirts, all to contribute to the care of the nearly 90 rescued horses at the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals. After raising close to $1,000, the students asked for a shopping list from the Society. They wanted to spend half the funds collected on items to help care for the animals and donate the remainder of the money for hay and grain for the horses. With shopping list in hand, the class went to the local Blue Seal feed store and chose brushes, halters, hoof picks, manure forks, and other needed equipment. They loaded it all onto a school bus and everything was delivered to the Society’s River Road farm. Following a trip through the barn to once again pat and admire the lucky horses living there, the children, chaperones, and Mrs. Rich gathered in the Society’s farmhouse for hot chocolate and photos.
During the visit to the State Capitol to receive the thanks of the State Senate and the Governor, the children were also treated to a tour of the building, including the famous wildlife dioramas and a look up at the dome from the fourth floor, by Representatives Bryant and Plummer. The children were exceptionally attentive and well behaved as they sat in the Senate Chamber, watching Senate President Elizabeth Mitchell (D-Vassalboro) conduct the business of governing in Maine. They were also excited and happy. One boy said, "We're so famous now, people will be asking US for our autographs!" Mrs. Rich replied, "See how important you become when you think of others in need?" Another student exclaimed, "This was the BEST day of my life!" Click here to see the gallery of photos from the trip to Augusta.
Maine, like other states, has experienced an increase in the number of animals being abandoned, starved, or neglected during the current economic crisis. FMI about the Society, please visit www.msspa.org.