What do you get when you combine t-shirts, yarn, and a group of eager Middle School students? A collection of colourful cat wands and dog toys destined for the local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) — and a lesson in giving back.
As part of the optional course selections to participate in Service Council , students are making braided dog toys out of repurposed, freshly washed t-shirts and colourful cat wands from dowels, feathers, ribbons, and yarn. To guide their work, they followed video instructions to learn the techniques. Once finished, the toys will be delivered to the Victoria SPCA at the end of October.
Ideas That Give Back
“This year we wanted to give back in a way that was not just about fundraising,” explained Middle School Humanities teacher, Sarah Ferrante, who is guiding the project. “Instead, we explored ways of helping that cost little, could be done together in class time, and would still make a meaningful difference.”
The idea quickly caught on. Students brainstormed several creative service projects, including restocking neighbourhood Little Libraries with donated books and making friendship bracelets and key chains for the children’s hospital. The pet toy project was chosen as the group’s first initiative of the term.
The energy in the classroom has been as playful as the toys themselves. At one point, a student dangled a newly made cat wand in front of a classmate: “See, look at how entertained you are. Now imagine a sweet little kitty!”
Delivering Creations to the SPCA
For many students, the highlight will come at the end of October, when they take a bus to the SPCA to hand-deliver the toys — and hopefully meet some of the animals who will enjoy them. While this first batch will all be donated, the project has sparked another idea: the toys are the kind of simple, durable creations that any cat or dog would love, and they could easily become a hit with pet owners in the school community. If students keep honing their skills, the toys could even be sold within the Middle School, with proceeds going back to support the SPCA.
“One of the goals for this project is to show students that giving back does not always require money,” said Ferrante. “It can be as simple as putting your creativity and time toward something that brings joy to others — even if those others are furry, four-legged friends.”
