PRESQUE ISLE – The KEY Club of Presque Isle High School recently made a donation of $137.87 to Crystal’s Cause: Pennies for Paws Program based on hours of fund-raising efforts by high school students.
Laura Roope, KEY Club adviser at Presque Isle High School and KEY Club members invited Crystal Belanger, originator of the Pennies for Paws Program, to their recent meeting so they could present her with a check for funds that they raised over a number of months. The check was presented to Crystal on behalf of the Pennies for Paws Program and the Central Aroostook Humane Society.
When KEY Club Secretary Bethany Lord, who also shares Roope’s homeroom with Crystal, saw Crystal’s WAGM news report, she issued a challenge to the other members of the PIHS KEY Club. She asked all members to create a money collection can from coffee cans to be used to collect money to give to Crystal to help in her wonderful fund-raising efforts, Pennies for Paws. In an effort to recognize Crystal’s effort, the club decided to make their fund-raiser “Crystal’s Cause: Pennies for Paws.”
The decorated cans have been placed in different areas of the high school, but the biggest contributor so far has been the Presque Isle Kiwanis Club. The club officers were invited to a luncheon meeting and brought one of the cans to seek spare change from Kiwanis’ members. The can was passed around. After the lunch was served, a lottery ticket drawing was held; part of a weekly club event. The club hadn’t had a winner for several weeks so the “jackpot” was at almost $100. One of the club’s most loved and distinguished members, Floyd Harding, won the drawing. In true Floyd spirit, he immediately donated his jackpot back to the club. Then Kiwanis Club President Carolyn Dorsey-Durepo donated the money to Crystal’s Cause.
This has been an opportunity for high school students that are members of the KEY Club International via the Presque Isle High School to volunteer and provide community service. The members gain invaluable community service time and benefit the humane society, as well. Roope plans for the fund-raising to continue throughout the next semester and the group will be making another donation in the spring.
Crystal has been a volunteer at the Central Aroostook Humane Society for a number of years. When rolling coins at their home, Crystal began to realize just how much loose change can add up. At that time, Crystal and her family were making toys and cat beds for the animals at the shelter, as well as time spent volunteering at the shelter. This idea of beginning a program whereby loose change can make a difference began. The “Pennies for Paws” program was originally set up where donations of pennies (loose change and bills, too) have been given and Crystal has provided the labor to roll the coins; she then forwards all donations to the shelter. She has requested that the monies assist the shelter toward the Spay and Neutering Fund. Crystal has already donated a total of over $750 thus far since beginning the program in March 2007.
Crystal is currently in the process of making more donation canisters and is planning to expand her local fund-raising efforts by contacting area businesses that wish to participate. She would like to be able to place canisters at public locations along with posters for a few weeks at a time. This would allow the business to either place the canister in a public area for patrons to donate or even in their staff break rooms for donating opportunities.
If you would like to donate to Crystal’s Cause: Pennies for Paws, you may send donations or contact the Central Aroostook Humane Society at 26 Cross St., Presque Isle, ME 04769 or 764-3441, or Crystal’s family at 764-6473. Remember, even your small change can make a BIG difference!
Photo courtesy of Christine Robinson
PENNIES FOR PAWS – Members of the PIHS KEY Club raised funds for the Central Aroostook Humane Society through a program called Crystal’s Cause: Pennies for Paws. Pictured with the check are, front row, from left: Vi Belanger, shelter board member; and Crystal Belanger, Pennies for Paws. Second row: Angie Burlock, Jenna Kitchen, Kailee Ireland and Kaitlyn Martin. Third row: Katrina Boyles, Mehgan Boucher and Breann McLaughlin. Fourth row: Bethany Lord, Jordan Harris and Megan Soucier. Fifth row: Dan Sipe; Tasha Tompkins; and Janet Kelle, Presque Isle Kiwanis Club. Sixth row: Janelle Brooks; and Laura Roope, PIHS KEY Club adviser. 
