MUSCATINE, Iowa–Though students in Muscatine Community School District’s Summer Program for the Arts, Recreation, and Knowledge, or S. P. A. R. K., spent a lot of time practicing vital skills and exploring areas of interest with community partners, they also found a way to make a positive difference. Under the leadership of several high school volunteers, students conducted a pet supply drive for the Muscatine Humane Society.
Tyler Lucas, a senior at Muscatine High School who has volunteered with S. P. A. R. K. for the past two summers, shared that he and the other high school volunteers introduced the idea of doing a drive for a local charity to students. They allowed students to vote on what organization they would like to support. After they selected the Muscatine Humane Society, the high school volunteers went to each classroom and assigned them a kind of supply to collect to make sure they got a wide variety of items to donate. These items came from the Humane Society’s most requested supplies list so that students could feel confident that their donations made a difference.
At the end of S. P. A. R. K., the high school volunteers retrieved several large bins worth of supplies for the Humane Society, as well as bags of cat and dog food. One of the high school students delivered all the materials to the Humane Society, which gratefully accepted them.
Though very young, the students in S. P. A. R. K. really got into their supply drive, to the delight of both Jefferson Principal and S. P. A. R. K. organizer Kandy Steel and Tyler.
“I’m just really proud of our kids that attended the summer program–they did a lot to give back to the community, and I’m really proud of our high school students,” said Steel.
“Our community in Muscatine really prides itself on being able to help others,” added Tyler.
