Maple Ridge school students raise funds and donations for the local SPCA branch

Students from c̓əsqənelə Elementary school raised funds and donated items for the BC SPCA’s Maple Ridge branch, last week.

Melissa Affleck’s Grade 1 students collected 79 donated items and raised $58.30, which they then gave to the animal shelter earlier this week.

“They wanted to find a way to help the SPCA, so we made flyers and collected donations,” she said. “We also made biscuits to take as well.”

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Affleck’s class has been inspired to find new ways of giving back to their community ever since they participated in the Terry Fox Run in September last year.

“My class has been very interested in figuring out ways to give and help,” she said. “They did a candy store in the fall and raised close to $300 [for the Terry Fox Run] in addition to our school fundraiser.”

Branch manager Krista Shaw was very impressed by the donation to the shelter.

“[It was] So appreciated and helpful. With 10 puppies in our care everything helps. They had toys and wet food for the puppies too,” she said.

Students even got a chance to learn more about the SPCA when they visited the facility to drop off their donation.

“We spent time learning what the SPCA was and how it helped and asked the Maple Ridge SPCA what they needed,” Affleck added. “It was an amazing experience to be able to go in person and give our donation.”

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