CATLIN, Ill. (WCIA) — Salt Fork High School FFA students in Vermilion County are scrubbing, power washing and spray painting, all for a good cause. They make dog beds for animal shelters in central Illinois.
It didn't come together overnight. It started with a lesson in sustainability.
“It's time to do what we're doing now to help and positively impact future generations,” said Macy Russell, one of the students.
After that, it became a very popular tire drive. In his first hour of collection, people donated about 100 tires, and by the end of the day the class had collected about 300 tires.
The Salt Fork students then got to work. Some people cut and measured wood, others focused on cleaning the tires, while others spray-painted and finished the cushioned areas on which the dogs lie.
Agriculture teacher Stacey Rickard is adding tools to her toolbox, both literally and figuratively.
“If you help students feel part of the community, they will want to come back and stay here,” she said. “Maybe someday I’ll teach their kids!”
Keeping the job in central Illinois is exactly what they are doing. The beds will be sent to several shelters, including one in Vermilion County.
“It's so exciting for us. We try to enrich their lives as much as we can while they're here,” said Kath, Adoption Manager at the Vermilion County Animal Shelter. Leanne Orcutt said.
That's the key to keeping the animals happy, she said.
“Many dogs in shelters are either depressed and closed off or excited and anxious,” Orcutt explained. “We do a lot of things to prevent them from taking the medication.”
High school students are happy to be able to make a difference to their many furry friends.
“I think it's great that our school can offer this and support our community and be a part of something bigger than ourselves,” Russell said.
Rickard cheers them on along the way as they continue to live to serve.
The dog bed will be delivered in the next few days as the weather improves. The Danville shelter isn't the only one benefiting. The students plan to donate beds and other supplies to several other shelters in central Illinois, but they hope it will be a surprise.
The work does not end here, the remaining tires not used for beds will be used to create garden beds.
