Puppies to aid Barclay Friends fire victims

Students from the West Chester University Honors College have organized a fundraiser to benefit those displaced by the fire last month at Barclay Friends Home — and the benefits will extend to canines and college students, too.

The public is invited to campus today from 1 to 4 p.m., when the Brandywine Valley SPCA will bring up to 25 puppies to a Winter Puppyland playland in Sykes Student Union ballrooms. For a $3 donation, anyone can stop in and cuddle a canine, enjoy the puppies’ an-

tics, and soak in the pure joy of puppies at play. Additional activities include an agility course, photo opportunities, bake sale, hot cocoa, holiday music, and raffles.

All proceeds will help the Barclay Friends Home residents replace their personal items such as hearing aids, dentures, glasses, etc.

The event is the work of Honors students Aria Swanson and Danielle Gendler, who volunteer at the SPCA. Danielle is also co-director of Traveling Across Generations (TAG), the Honors College’s community outreach program that connects students with senior citizens, and Aria is a TAG member. TAG’s primary outreach location has been Barclay Friends Home and the young women wanted to help in the healing process following the fire. Both called the Barclay residents their “adoptive grandparents” and both knew the residents who were killed.

All the animals at Thursday’s Winter Puppyland are adoptable and adoption information will be on hand. Adoptions will take place at the Brandywine Valley SPCA (1212 Phoenixville Pike, West Chester, PA 19380) immediately following the event.

The best places for the public to park on campus on weekdays are the parking garages on South New Street (closer to Sykes) and Sharpless Street, which are pay-by-the-hour.