Glendale school raises pennies for puppies

For the third consecutive year, students at Dry Harbor Play School in Glendale donated proceeds from their “Pennies for Puppies” fund drive to “Bobbi and the Strays,” a not-for-profit organization that provides no-kill shelter for abandoned or abused animals.
On Wednesday, June 10, four and five-year-old students from the school went to Dry Harbor Playground where they presented organization owner Roberta “Bobbi” Giordano with a check and some items purchased by students. Students raised money by bringing pennies to school and placing them in a large jar. They collected 13,068 pennies, a total of almost $131.
“I was overwhelmed with the children; it was really good to have people care,” Giordano said.
Teacher Roberta Maureau of Dry Harbor Play School said she first heard about “Bobbi and the Strays” from a student several years ago. The student’s brother had asked for donations to the organization in lieu of birthday presents, and Maureau was inspired to collect donations as well.
Giordano has animals on display for adoption in The Shops at Atlas Park, near the school. Some students go into the store during the year to visit the animals, and last year three students adopted pets there.
“Most of the children live in the area; it teaches them about the community, and it teaches them things they can do for the community and to help others,” Maureau said.
In addition to benefiting the students, Maureau said the project is worthwhile because it is expensive for Giordano to care for the animals. Giordano agrees, and adds that “Bobbi and the Strays” is funded entirely by donations. Maureau says the school plans to continue the program next year.
Wednesday’s event combined the “Pennies for Puppies” program with the Green Apple Corps program. The students learned about the environment this year, and planted a tree in honor of the “Pennies for Puppies” program, along with other plants planted around the park.