Staff and students at Blanche Sims Elementary School met two very special guests on March 1 — Art and his service dog ‘Boomer.? The two visited the school for a ‘Paws to Read? thank you celebration.
Blanche Sims students and students at Paint Creek Elementary School participated in the 2004 ‘Paws to Read? community service project during March is Reading Month.
The project encourages children to collect pledges for minutes spent reading. The pledges are then donated to Paws with a Cause, a national organization that trains assistance dogs for people with disabilities.
Between the two schools, over $10,000 was raised.
The final step in this program took place when the students at Blanche Sims met the assistance dog team they helped to sponsor.
Art and his service dog ‘Boomer? demonstrated the tasks they now accomplish together, such as retrieving dropped items, including the telephone, opening doors and paying cashiers.
Most of all, Art and Boomer came to thank the staff and students for making their partnership possible.
This year marks the 10th Paws to Read program held at Blanche Sims. The school has collected over $30,000 in pledges which leads the nation.
For Paint Creek, 2004 was its first time holding a Paws to Read program and the students raised over $6,000.
Both schools organized special activities in March and the schools underwent some substantial redecorating as well.
For minutes read, Blanche Sims students earned paw prints that were displayed in the hallways. Paint Creek students earned ‘leash loops? for minutes read and the school was draped in leashes from one end to the other.
For more information about Paws with a Cause, contact Lynn Hoekstra, regional director, or Sue Brooks, development representative at the Southeast Michigan Regional Paws office (248-693-9789).