Group Effort Benefits Animals at the League!



The $320 that Temple Shalom's 7th grade class raised represents, not only weeks of bake sales, but lots of  research, information sharing and debate.   The religious school students collectively chose one organization for their mitzvah ( good deed) project; but before the League was named the award recipient, the passionate pre-bat and  -bar mitzvah students appealed to one another to support a variety of community organizations.   Once the League was identified as the class mitzvah project,  the organizing, collecting and baking began.    The students baked and hosted weekly bake sales and set up a collection box in the  temple's lobby for donated cat and dog food, treats and linens.  Students appealed to congregants, during Friday night services, to contribute to the class' effort.   A number of the 7th graders and their parents visited the League earlier this month to bring the donations and visit the animals.   Roxanne P., a loyal WARL volunteer, guided  the group through the shelter and introduced them to the shelter animals.   The students asked numerous questions, many about volunteering -- undoubtedly this concerted effort to help the animals will not end with the 7th grade project !





Representatives of Temple Shalom's
 7th grade religious school class



 

Jonah with the food donations
 that were donated, at his request,
 by guests at his bar mitzvah.



Jonah visiting with
a puppy at the League.

The word mitzvah refers to a good or worthy deed.  Jonah, a local seventh grader, who recently celebrated his bar mitzvah  accomplished a MEGA -MITZVAH.   Jonah, and several religious school classmates visited the League in October 2011, a couple of months before Jonah's bar mitzvah ceremony and celebration.  It was during that tour that he decided that he wanted to share his important day with the animals.  Not just any animals.  Jonah decided to ask his bar mitzvah guests to  contribute to  the Washington Animal Rescue League's Rescuers Food Bank.  The Food Bank enables under-served members of our community to pick up dog or cat food from the League on a monthly basis.  
Since the economic down-turn several years ago, more and more animal guardians have found the Food Bank to be a tremendous help.   Many of the folks who rely on the food contribution are elderly, some are people who have fallen on hard times -- all are people who love their companion animals and want to care for them properly.  Clinic clients often tell staff that they are feeding their dogs instead of themselves -- it should not be an either/or situation. 

The Food Bank is stocked entirely by donations.   Jonah's collection will go a long way to help people and animals in Washington.  His mom's SUV was packed to the roof with bags, boxes and cans.  In addition, Jonah brought an envelope with cash and checks donated by several of his guests. 
I often show student groups through the shelter and wonder what impact their tour will have on their views concerning animal welfare.   In Jonah's case, I know -- one Sunday morning visit to the League sparked a MEGA mitzvah that will fill the bellies of many much-loved animal companions and the hearts of their devoted  guardians.