HELPING ANIMALS — Hills Elementary students supported their animal friends with a school-wide collection for the Jefferson County Humane Society. Showing off the items are, from left, front, Jefferson County Humane Officer Nick Thayer, humane official Amanda Duvall, and Akira; back, teacher Amy Roe, Hills Elementary Principal Erin Alloggia and teachers Amanda Roach and Kim Carnahan. -- Contributed

MINGO JUNCTION — Hills Elementary students were feeling generous this holiday season and gathered food and supplies to benefit the Jefferson County Humane Society.

Students and their families provided dog and cat food, treats, leashes, pet beds, blankets and cleaning supplies to support the cats and dogs at the facility as they seek their fur-ever homes. Second-grade teachers Amanda Roach, Amy Roe and Kim Carnahan said the collection stemmed from the school’s annual Christmas play.

“We presented the Christmas play, ‘Arf on the Housetop,’ on Dec. 9 and the story is about a family adopting a dog from a shelter. They bring all of the puppies home and Santa says he can help get them adopted,” Roach explained. “In keeping with the theme, we thought it would be nice to collect for the Jefferson County Humane Society and opened it up to the whole school.”

Following the school’s Thanksgiving food drive for the United Way United Way of Jefferson County, they worked to gather the items for the humane society and held a campaign on Dec. 2-9. Roach said the school community rallied to provide food and supplies that humane officials collected.

“This was food for the animals, and every little bit helps,” she continued. “They stepped up and donated a lot of things. We’re just thankful to the parents and community for their support.”

“And the kids were ecstatic,” Amy Roe added.

County Humane Officer Nick Thayer, who collected the goods with JCHS official Amanda Duvall and furry friend Akira, was pleased with the response and said it will greatly help the organization and its furry friends.

“We’re very grateful,” Thayer said. “We probably have around 57 cats and dogs at the shelter and we’re pretty full at the moment.”

He noted that the furry inhabitants are all available for adoption and a local business was helping in that endeavor.

Thayer added that the human society participated in the 25 Days of Christmas with Lightning Lizard Auto, and every day up to Dec. 25 Lightning Lizard donated money to pay for adoptions, so they were free to people. It helped the dogs and cats find good homes, he added.

For information or for adoptions, contact the Jefferson County Humane Society at (740) 314-5583.