Homeless dogs and cats were designated to receive the bounty from a community service project at Sacred Heart School.
“Since the kindergarteners are very interested in animals — preschool also did this — we decided to collect for the Buck Fund,” said kindergarten teacher Sue Ella Touslee.
The drive ended at 10 a.m. Tuesday, when students presented the foods, treats, toys and other pet-related items to representatives of the H. Dale Buck Animal Welfare Memorial Fund.
The Fund was an appropriate designee for the project, Touslee said, because October is the time of the Feast of St. Francis, patron saint of animals.
“We collect it in October, more in honor of him, as well,” she said.
The rest of the school became involved through monetary donations made on jean days, Touslee said.
Students regularly wear variations of uniforms to school — red, white, navy blue or khaki pants, shorts, skorts or jumpers, depending upon the gender of the child. Jean days are held about once per month, and fees charged for the privilege of dressing casually are donated to special causes.
“Oftentimes they bring in $1 per shirt and then $1 for their jeans, and then we give that to a charity or some organization,” Touslee said. “This last time, they had $58, and then school then gave that money (to the pet project). We bought more dog food and cat food and such as that.
“All in all, the whole school ended up donating to this project.”
Preschool teachers whose class took part are Monica Barnett and Mary Siegle.