Loading donations for needy animals marked the finale to the Northumberland Public Library’s Summer Reading Program, PAWS to Read, during the library’s All-Ages Story Hour August 27.
The donated items, including food, toys, blankets and towels, were loaded aboard a van from the Northumberland County Animal Shelter by about a dozen parents and kids who attended the library’s Summer Reading Program finale. On hand to accept the items were Shelter Director Angie Balderson and shelter employees Jorie Bramblett and Gabrial Figgatt.
The items had been dropped off at the library over the summer by library patrons. A large collection box that looked like a dog house was placed by the front entrance to hold the donated items.
Shelter Director Balderson said the stack of donated items was “awesome” and will give needy animals something to play with. It also will help keep shelter expenses down. “It’s wonderful to have the people in the community support the shelter,” she added.
Shelter employee Bramblett said the collection effort was great. “I know a lot of the dogs and cats will enjoy playing with the toys. Fellow shelter employee Figgatt also praised the community for lending a helping hand. “It means a lot for the community to be behind us and supporting us,” Figgatt said.
Story Hour attendees also made special “thank-you” cards for the Animal Shelter. And Jan Bates, Coordinator of Children’s Programs, gave each animal shelter employee a “Pawsome Reader” dog tag. Those dog tags were the same as the ones the library presents to Northumberland Elementary students who meet their summer reading goal.
“It was a great way to end the summer – and the Summer Reading Program,” said Bates, who expressed her thanks to everyone who donated items to the animal shelter. “We at the library are all about the community. This is a way the kids could be involved in the community.”
Article courtesy of Don Hirst, Northumberland Public Library Publicist
Photo by Don Hirst – Kids hold the donated items before loading them into the shelter’s van.
