What’s more heartwarming than kids and animal? Kids who help animals. Local children have been making a major difference for animals in the Bangor area.
According to Rob Crone, director of nutrition at Eastern Area Agency on Aging, children have
been among the many donors to the Furry Friends Food Bank. The Furry Friends Food Bank
provides supplemental nutrition for the pets of seniors living the Bangor area.
“We have about 1,000 low income seniors enrolled in the program, who might not be able to keep the pet if it were not for the generosity of individuals like these young folks,” Crone said.
“Many of these seniors have no family and live in isolation, and their pets are their only companions.”
Crone noted that young donors have paid it forward by asking for donations of pet food and
supplies instead of birthday presents, holding pet food drives at their school or Scout troops, or
simply donated as a way to give back.
It’s a common theme, noted Stacey Coventry, Bangor Humane Society’s Director of Development and Public Relations. Children have donated birthday presents, held fundraisers
and planned special events to raise money, supplies and more for pets that are waiting for
forever homes.
Other youthful philanthropists have found creative ways of raising money for animal shelters.
Matthew Gross, 12, of Brewer was recognized at the State House on March 19 for his
fundraising efforts benefitting the Bangor Humane Society. Gross has been holding a bike ride — Ride for the Wet Nose — since 2012. The 25-mile bicycle ride raises money for the humane
society.
“It’s neat to watch them mature and build a philanthropic mindset,” Coventry said. “Every day
kids are giving up a birthday, collecting donations and donating them. We live in a really selfish
society so it’s a testament to the families who have encouraged their kids to engage.”
While Bangor Humane Society has restrictions to how old a child can be to volunteer, it has started a new program that happens each other month called Saturday Kids Give Back, spearheaded by Laurie Qualey, a BHS board member and active volunteer for BHS.
Saturday Kids Give Back is a two-hour workshop for 10-12 children ranging in age from 5 to
12. The program is free, but participants are asked to bring in something from the shelter’s wish list. During the program, the children choose a cat and a dog to sponsor and create signs that are attached to the animals kennels. In addition, children see how the Humane Society operates and learn about why animals might end up at the shelter and how people can make a difference by adopting.
“I held my first Saturday Kids Give Back event at the Bangor Humane Society on Dec. 13 to
promote the idea of giving instead of getting during the holiday season,” Qualey said. “All the
animals the kids have made signs for have been adopted and all adopters requested to take the
poster home with them. This program is really engaging for the kids. It gives them a chance to
think about the purpose of a shelter.”
Creating things for the shelter pets, from signs to toys to treats, also serves a larger purpose,
Qualey noted. It promotes empathy, creates a sense of civic responsibility and community,
gives children a creative outlet to cooperate and work together to create their signs, and empowers them to know they can do something good and feel good about it.
To find out more about Saturday Kids Give Back or to learn more about volunteering and
donating, call Coventry at 942-8902 or visit bangorhumane.org.
Debra Bell is a freelance writer and graphic designer and is the owner of Bell’s Furry Friends
Photography, a division of Bell Imaging & Design LLC.