Non-Profit Spotlight
Paint-A-Shelter Pet
MERRITT STUDENTS CREATE SHOWCASE AND FUNDRAISER FOR RAMAPO-BERGEN ANIMAL REFUGE
C
resskill’s Merritt Memorial School loves animals. In fact, they love animals so much the fourth and fifth graders decided they needed to find a way to help homeless animals in need of finding their forever loving families. Meeting after school, children in grades 4 and 5 took to canvas to paint homeless animals to not only help Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge, Inc. (RBARI) get exposure of their current homeless pets, but also to help people realize how important it is to advocate and donate to organizations, such as RBARI, that provides care to animals that have nowhere else to turn. “Projects like this help give voices to those animals who are living homeless waiting for a family to love them,” said Caryn Gray, a fourth-grade teacher at Merritt Memorial. Materials were sponsored by Mercedes-Benz, which 18
afforded the program to be free of charge for the students. “Our hopes are that we auction the artwork for donations for each painting,” said Gray. “RBARI will also be onsite to donate in person at the showcase.” Held on Jan. 4 at One River School in Englewood, the showcase and fundraiser was a success with donations being made RBARI, the leading no-kill animal shelter in Northern New Jersey that is dedicated to second chances by providing safe refuge and essential medical and behavioral care, along with new forever homes to New Jersey’s homeless and abused dogs and cats. RBARI focuses on animals with the greatest need, especially those often rejected, including seniors, urgent medical cases and surrenders.
