Students from Central Collegiate recently made a donation to the local SCRAPS organization, to support the work volunteers do for stray cats around the city and to raise awareness for the group’s cause.
Teacher Ray Rawlyk organizes the charity campaign each year, collecting donations from willing students at Central to provide to local animal aid organizations in Moose Jaw.
“We’ve been doing this for the past few years [and] the kids come together and give cash to raise money for SCRAPS,” said Rawlyk.
This year’s donation totalled $500, which Rawlyk and the students were pleased to see, as many volunteer-based groups like SCRAPS have had to curtail their usual fundraising events because of the pandemic this year.
The recent donation to SCRAPS is just the first, said Rawlyk. He will be continuing to collect donations from students throughout the rest of the year for later donations to Free to Be Me Animal Sanctuary and Running Wild Rescue.
“This year’s a little different because we’re trying to raise awareness not only for SCRAPS but for other organizations as well, that didn’t get funding from other sources,” said Rawlyk. “Most of the need for organizations like SCRAPS comes from vet bills, so we try to raise money to help with that.”
The goal of the annual campaign is to raise more awareness about both the work these organizations do for the benefit of local animals in need, as well as to offer financial support to help that work succeed.
Rawlyk said he usually sees good engagement from students to support the donations, which he hopes will also foster a spark of generosity in the students moving forward, especially towards local volunteer groups.
“I think there’s a sense of caring [for unwanted animals] in Moose Jaw, and I think that’s going to grow because of what we’re trying to do,” said Rawlyk. “Hopefully, as some of these kids get older, they’ll be able to foster some animals or help out in some way. It's about raising awareness of good, solid grassroots organizations that exist in the city.”
