Junior high art club donates to Berks ARL
Painted canvas placemats to go home with new pet adopters
A group of Boyertown students is putting their artistic abilities to good use, making small impacts throughout the community.
The 8th Grade Select Crafts club at Boyertown Junior High West has been meeting every day after school to work on small projects such as eyeglasses, teddy bears, and bird feeders.
Under the leadership of art teacher Stephanie Stamm, these projects are then donated to a local community facility. For example — the eyeglasses went to Reading Hospital and the teddy bears were donated to Friendship Hook and Ladder Fire Company.
Most recently, the club decided to make pet placemats for the Animal Rescue League of Berks County.
Using acrylic paint, each student was able to create a unique design for their canvas mat — taking inspiration from animals or general home décor. New pet adopters will be the recipients of these new student-painted canvas mats.
“The idea is that these mats will be given to give to people who adopt a new friend, as kind of a ‘thank you’ for saving a life and giving a wonderful pet a new
home,” said Stamm.
With a club of about 18 members, they each created two mats which brought a total donation of 30 mats.
“I like to know that I could combine art and helping people into one thing – I really like doing both of those,” Brianna Fritz, student club member.
“I thought it was nice, not everyone chooses to do something for their community. Doing something that others don’t,” said Alexis Weidner
The students were to the Animal Rescue League of Berks County to present the pet placemats they designed. During their visit, they were also given a guided tour of the facility and got to greet to many cats and dogs currently available for adoption.