Seniors helped with Random Acts of Kindness initiative
by Terra Osterling
Sandy Creek Christian Family Center at 16858 Ridge Road in Holley has gone to the dogs … and cats. It’s all part of their newest Random Acts of Kindness initiative, C.A.R.E. (Community Angels Rally for the Elderly): Collecting pet food and supplies to aid senior citizens in caring for their pets.
Universal Pre-K through Sixth Grade students at Sandy Creek learned that when household funds are low, some local senior citizens are opting to buy food for their pets instead of for themselves. It was the Community Action Team of Orleans and Genesee that alerted Center Director Shelley Thompson to this need when she inquired about ways that Sandy Creek could help the community.
“We try to teach them how to give back,” Thompson says. When she proposed the pet food collection idea to the children alongside other options, they voted overwhelming for pets.
Sandy Creek’s season of giving runs all year long, but begins new Random Acts of Kindness in the spring to carry through their summer camp program. A bowl-a-thon during spring break raised $100 for pet food and supplies, kicking off their newest initiative.
Previous initiatives include picking up trash, cleaning the Holley Community Center, planting flowers and even turning trick-or-treating and Christmas celebrations into fundraising benefits. Thompson says that Sandy Creek’s students are really “unsung heroes” in the community.
A collection jar for rescue kittens at Sandy Creek has also raised hundreds of dollars in partnership with Wiley’s Ark Animal Care in Holley. That money goes towards treating and preparing rescued kittens for adoption, says Dr. Krista Wiley, veterinarian and founder of Wiley’s Ark.
“It’s a great symbiotic relationship,” Dr. Wiley says, noting that Wiley’s Ark often posts flyers at the animal care office when Sandy Creek collects bedding and food to benefit other local animal rescue groups.
This initiative benefitting the pets of budget-stretched seniors is a two-fold act of kindness, says Dr. Wiley. She notes that “pet ownership has shown dramatic effects for the elderly, giving them something to think about, care for, alleviating boredom and providing a source of affection as well as mental stimulation.”
In addition to money raised, 57 pounds of dog and cat food plus treats and toys have already been collected at Sandy Creek. The children even contribute handmade toys. The donations are then distributed through the Community Action center located in Albion. The next distributions are scheduled for late June and mid-August.
Sandy Creek will accept donations of any item that would help feed or enrich the life of a pet, such as dry or canned food, toys, cat litter and treats.
Deliver donations through Thursday, August 16 to the Sandy Creek Christian Family Center at 16858 Ridge Road in Holley, Monday through Friday, 6am to 6pm. For information on making a donation, contact Sandy Creek at 585-638-8230. If you or someone you know is in need of assistance to help feed a pet, contact the Community Action Center of Orleans and Genesee at 409 East State Street, Albion, New York, 585-589-5605.
