The Pierceton Elementary School student council donated $150 to the Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County on Monday, Feb. 26. Funds were raised via the council’s Cutest Pet Couple Contest in February. Shown accepting the check from student council members are AWL Adoption Specialist Brooke Lyon, far left, and AWL Adoption Tech Jayme Staner, second from left. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

PIERCETON — Pierceton Elementary School students and staff have raised $150 for local animals in need all while having fun with their own pets.

On Monday, Feb. 26, the Pierceton Elementary School student council presented a check to representatives from the Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County. Monies were collected via the council’s Cutest Pet Couple Contest in February.

AWL Adoption Specialist Brooke Lyon said the money should go to the shelter’s Hope Fund, which covers emergency medical expenses for animals at the shelter.

Pierceton Elementary School mental health therapist and student council advisor Steffanie Hupp said the council just got restarted this school year after stopping during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We needed a fundraiser to get our funds back up, but we also want to keep (the students community-minded), so we wanted to share some of (the money),” she said.

Kids and staff members submitted photos of themselves with their pets for others to vote on. People voted by placing funds in containers at the school.

The winners were Trinity Thomas and her cat, who got a $25 gift card to PetSmart. Hupp said the nearly 30 submissions included dogs, cats, cows, a pig and a horse.

“Again we’re just really trying to get them to be community-focused, so not just school-focused,” said Hupp of what she hoped student council members took away from the fundraiser. “We try to do one activity to pep up the school each month and then we want to do community service projects.”

Hupp is assisted by co-student council advisor Claire Frame, a Pierceton Elementary kindergarten teacher.

The council’s next fundraiser will be Short Socks for Spring for Fellowship Missions of Warsaw. Kids will take donations of new shorter socks and razors in April.

Anyone from the community is welcome to donate by contacting Hupp at [email protected].