Going to the dogs (and cats)

Caz Middle School Mentoring Program students donate nearly 300 items to Wanderer’s Rest

By Jason Emerson

Editor

Rosie, Peanut and Stuart Little visited the students of the Cazenovia Middle School Mentor Program this week to thank them for their generosity. And maybe to roll over and get their bellies scratched.

The three therapy dogs, along with their owner, Dee Schaefer, humane educator at Wanderer’s Rest Humane Association, visited Cazenovia Middle School on May 24 to accept nearly 300 items collected and donated by the mentor program students.

Wanderers’ Rest, an open-admission shelter in Canastota that serves more than 1,000 cats and dogs each year, is a non-profit, 501c3 organization. This year, facing increasing expenses, the organization is entering its fourth financial quarter without enough funds to pay its staff, Schaefer said.

“Donations like yours eases up on the [financial] burden a little bit,” Schaefer told the students. “So this helps. Thank you very much.”

Seventh grader Kendra Wilkinson holds Rosie, a Wanderer's Rest therapy dog, during the May 24 middle school mentor program event. Looking on and waiting for a turn to hold Rosie are Kiara Cummings, Marysa Avery and Nine Clifton. — Seventh grader Kendra Wilkinson holds Rosie, a Wanderer’s Rest therapy dog, during the May 24 middle school mentor program event. Looking on and waiting for a turn to hold Rosie are Kiara Cummings, Marysa Avery and Nine Clifton.

The middle school mentor program, started 21 years ago by former school guidance counselor Jennifer Glasgow, matches up students in fifth, sixth and seventh grades who can use positive role models with adult mentors from the middle school. Together they do individual activities such as bowling, fishing or even doing homework together, as well as group activities once a month such as a recent dinner at the Lincklaen House.

“The Mentor Program is an incredibly important program at Cazenovia Middle School because it provides our students with a positive link to school. It is amazing to see how much the students benefit from the caring support of the adult staff member with whom they are paired,” said Eliza Collins, middle school counselor and program coordinator. “The Mentor Program provides the students with the opportunity to build positive relationships with both school staff and their peers, all while participating in fun activities.”

Program participants also do different service activities throughout the school year, such as holding spaghetti dinners for local veterans and, their most recent activity, gathering donations to help the administration and work of Wanderer’s Rest.

“The kids ran the whole thing. They made posters, fliers and donation boxes, and did announcements during school,” said 16-year mentor and program Care Team member Mark Tugaw. “We like having the kids give something back. It’s a pretty neat thing.”

Program students donated 293 items to Wanderer’s Rest, including food and treats, baskets, towels, pet clothing, bowls, toys and even miscellaneous office supplies to be used by the association.

Also included in the donation was $15 in cash by Cazenovia sixth grader Chloe Pushlar, who found the money in a library book. The book was brand new, with only a few students who had ever checked it out, so Pushlar told a teacher about the money and they tracked down everyone who had checked out the book. Nobody claimed the cash. Instead of keeping the money, Pushlar decided to add it to the Wanderer’s Rest donation.

After accepting the total donation and telling the program participants a little about Wanderer’s Rest, what they do and how they also have certified therapy dogs that go into schools, hospitals, hospices and other locations to help people of all ages deal with various issues and traumas, Schaefer invited the students to hold and pet the three dogs she brought with her.

Caz fifth grader Abby Kimball holds therapy dog Rosie during the May 24 middle school mentor program event.

“I am so proud of these kids. They worked really hard to put this activity together. They stepped up as leaders in our school and they did an amazing job,” Collins said. “Doing Service Projects, like this one for Wanderer’s Rest, allows the students to see how they can impact others, and also shows them the importance of giving back to help others where they can. It helps them think outside of themselves, which is tough at this age. The students really connected to this particular service project, as many of them are animal lovers, and have pets of their own. They really enjoyed having the therapy dogs come to our activity, and were so excited to be able to pet and hold them. They are already asking about having Wanderer’s Rest back next year.”

For more photos of the mentor program May 24 event and visit with the therapy dogs, visit the Cazenovia Republican Facebook page at Facebook.com/cazrepublican.