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Students' iood trays help with humane causeBy Lynda ). HemmerlingChildren rarely ever think about feeding their school lunch to the dogs.Well, these days, some children are giving their lunch trays to cats.As part of a special recycling program, children at Mohawk School in Park Forest collect used Styrofoam trays for use by sheltered felines.The third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students collect about 150 trays per week and send them to the South Suburban Humane Society in Chicago Heights.“This is a very positive program because the students realize the importance of helping out and volunteering, Mohawk principal Diane Moses said.“They’re learning not only to help other people, but animals aswell.”Park Forest resident FlorenceOliver, who started the recycling program, agreed.“Th is is a worthwhile project for the children to be a part of and something I am glad I can help with,” said Oliver, who is president of the Park Forest Women’s Club.“Most children hive animals,” she said. “I’m an animal lover, too, and this is just a better way togo.”The program’s mechanics are pretty simple.Thursdays are pizza days at Mohawk School, so the lunch trays are cleaner than the days when the children have messier meals.After lunch the students place their trays in bags. They are cleaned by lunchroom helpers. Oliver then comes by and bringsthem to the Humane Society.Lester Kloss, president of South Suburban Humane Society’s Board of Directors, said the program is an excellent source of travs used to feed cats.“The travs are clean and imme-diately usable,” Kloss said. “It’s a very efficient and sterile way to do feedings.”The trays do not have to be cleaned, like metal or plastic bowls. Instead, after their second use — by the felines — the trays are thrown away.“It’s a very worthwhile contribution,” Kloss said. “We hope this is something they continue to do. We’ve built it into our planning. It saves us significant time and money.”Kloss added that the humane society could use one or two more programs similar to this one. He noted that small dogs could probably be fed off similar trays, but they would not work with largedogs.Oliver said she also collects newspapers for the cat litters, which can be heavier to carry than the boxes of trays.“I enjoy being able to do this,” she said. Oliver brings about 150 trays to the Humane Society each week, and extra newspapers whenever possible.“I just plan to do it every week. It’s no problem.Moses, who has adopted two cats from the Humane Society, said her students are “thrilled” to help.“They do such a wonderful job with the animals there,” she said.The South Suburban Humane Society is at 1103 West End Ave., Chicago Heights. The telephonenumber is (708) 755-7387.
Newspaper Details
Matteson Star
Matteson, Illinois, US
Thu, Mar 11, 1999
Page 4
Full Page
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USA 12 Aug 2022
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