Mount Vernon High School students support animal shelters

MOUNT VERNON – Students at Mount Vernon High School donated over 40 items for the cats at the Knox County Humane Society. and over 100 items for the dogs at the Knox County Animal Shelter. The donations were given to shelters on Dec. 7 and 9. 

FCCLA, (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) sponsored the school drive. Freshman FCCLA members Hailey Clayton, Kailey Clayton, Kaylie Langston, Lilly McCarty and Oliver Williams and sophomore Bailey Swihart organized the cat item collection, and Kylee Neighbarger, Samara Davis and Kaylynn Ott organized collections for the dogs. The students publicized the school-wide event through creating posters, hallway and classroom fliers, and school video announcements. 

"Preparing everything for the drive was a lot more work than I thought, but helping the animals is very important and worth it," Neighbarger said. She said she appreciated the help offered by the whole Skills for Life class. 

Students coordinated their classroom service learning project with Martha Ott from the Humane Society and Brook Brown from the animal shelter. Both women came to the high school to share information about the needs of their organizations. This helped in promoting the collection drive and inspired students to consider volunteering at the shelters on their own. 

FCCLA awarded the top three HIVE classes with cupcakes. Top individual donors, Allic Ashcraft and Chloe Brietenstein, were invited to a pizza party. 

“Although FCCLA offered a reward to the winning class, student awareness and a desire to make a difference made this collection drive a success,” said Martha Melick, FCCLA adviser and MVHS family and consumer science teacher. 

photo - cat shelter (2 people) 

Cutline - MVHS FCCLA donates toys and food to Knox County Humane Society. Left to right: Kaylie Langston and shelter coordinator Martha Ott.

Credit - Submitted

photo - animal shelter (4 people)

Cutline  -  MVHS FCCLA students donate to Knox County Animal Shelter. Left to right: Brook Brown, deputy dog warden; Kylee Neighbarger; Chloe Breitenstein; and Samara Davis.

Credit - Submitted.