Coahoma Elementary School (CES) student council Have a Heart for Pets

The Coahoma Elementary School (CES) student council's Have a Heart for Pets fundraiser netted $2,536.25, which was delivered to the Happy Day Humane Society recently.

“The STUCO (student council) members brainstormed ideas for a community service project for February (community service month) and voted as a group to raise funds for the Humane Society,” said Tiffany Coker, CES STUCO (student council) sponsor. “After much discussion of a reasonable end goal, the students set a goal of raising $2,023.

Coker said Happy Day Humane Society manager Khristy Mcmahan offered some advice on the donation.

“Our original plan was to use the funds to purchase supplies for the organization, but after conversations with Khristy, it was determined that they could better utilize the money to pay for medical expenses for the animals,” she continued.

One of those recipients of medical care is Tommy, a three-legged mix-breed dog who serves as a Happy Day ambassador. According to Mcmahan, Tommy was chasing after the vehicle of his former owner, who had dumped him, when he was struck by another car. The damage to his leg was so severe that it was amputated.

Despite his past traumatic experience, Tommy greeted the CES representatives with dog kisses and a wagging tail as he roamed from one student to another in hopes of belly rubs and pets. He was not disappointed.

“We called the fundraiser ‘Have a Heart for Pets' because of the February timeline and the overlap with Valentine's Day,” Coker said. “The students created posters to promote the fundraiser and created collection boxes for each elementary classroom.”

Along with the collection boxes, STUCO held two hat days; any elementary student could pay $1 for the privilege of wearing a hat in school; and a Free Dress week where Academy students could pay $10 to wear free dress instead of uniforms for the week.

“The fifth grade STUCO members collected the money from the classrooms each day,” Coker added.

Following the official check presentation at the Humane Society's main building, students toured the facility and learned about the history of some of the residents.

Mamahan spoke to the students about ways to help alleviate the homeless dog and cat population as well as ways to be better pet owners.