Preschoolers donate to dog shelter

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Maria Bennett (left), deputy dog warden at the Wright-Poling Pickaway County Dog Shelter, speaks to students Tuesday at Circleville Elementary School. (Photos by Trish Bennett)

A puppy named Roxy joined Maria Bennett, deputy dog warden, during a presentation Tuesday for afternoon preschool classes at Circleville Elementary School.

Preschoolers in the afternoon classes at Circleville Elementary School pose with Maria Bennett, deputy dog warden, and Roxy, a shelter dog, after donating $567.11 to the dog shelter.

CIRCLEVILLE – Preschoolers at Circleville Elementary School recently combined lessons about art and philanthropy for the benefit of the Wright-Poling Pickaway County Dog Shelter.

About 100 preschool students in five morning and afternoon classes created works of art and sold them for donations at an art show for family and friends, raising $567.11 for homeless dogs at the shelter.

The students learned about different artwork and read stories about artists during the project, according to Angela Smith, preschool teacher. In all, each student created six pieces of artwork for the show.

After the show, the students voted and collectively chose to donate the proceeds to the local dog shelter, she said.

“This is the first event we’ve had like this, and it was such a success,” Smith said. “We’ve already begun planning for next year.”

Staff members from the Pickaway County Dog Shelter visited with the preschool students Tuesday, talking to the kids about the work at the shelter and bringing along a canine companion for a ‘pet and greet’ so they understood where their money was going and how it would be put to use.