This past Spirit Week, your help in the purchase of a cause shirt went to providing veterans with companion dogs.

Culinary teacher and member of the Veterans Day Committee, Joanna Hildebrand organized the fundraiser; she’s passionate about making sure veterans feel honored and are provided with emotional support post- service.

“The fundraiser is designed to raise money to sponsor a veteran by purchasing a rescue dog for them to help with PTSD or if they need companionship. I found a rescue organization in Connecticut called Dog Star Rescue. They have a division called ‘Dog Star for Vets’ where they will help cover the cost of a rescue dog, but they need people to sponsor them. Our whole goal is to help as many veterans as possible,” Ms. Hildebrand said.

According to the foundation, Dog Star Rescue (DS4V), the money from cause day shirts will cover basic training of a companionship dog before it is matched to a veteran. The organization is “focused on matching specially identified rescue dogs to be companions and emotional support dogs, and to help heal the emotional wounds of military veterans.”

Along with the shirts, the culinary department hosted a dog treat fundraiser that is open to all members of the community. Catering classes at the high school worked with classes from Flanders elementary school to make the dog treats in an “integrating experience” according to Gary Wight, a second grade Flanders teacher.

“My favorite part is that I get to come here and help you guys and the veterans so that they can enjoy the treats. It’s a new experience cooking with high schoolers and it makes me happy that I’m doing a good deed,” a second grader from Mr. White’s class said.

Working with Ms. Hildebrand, Ms. Rachel Redding designed the logo and packaging for cause day shirts and dog
treat packages. Combining the money from shirts and the dog treat fundraiser, Ms. Hildebrand has a goal of raising $2,000 to provide four companionship dogs to four veterans. The money from the fundraisers will be presented in a check to a representative from Dog Star Rescue at the Veterans Day assembly.

“Not only are we saving a veteran, but we’re saving an unwanted dog too,” Ms. Hildebrand said.