Lycée Elves: The Dog Toy Workshop at the Middle School

We may all expect to open gifts over the holidays. Most likely, our pets are also expecting presents. But what about the pets who have not yet found homes and families that will spoil them with gifts? Do they deserve presents this year? Well, the LFLA Humane Society thinks they do.

This principle has led the Humane Society, a club on campus dedicated to promoting animal welfare and supporting local animal shelters, to organize dog toy making workshops on not only the high school campus, but also the middle school campus before winter break begins. Making a change in the lives of animals in local shelters was the purpose of starting this club, and I am so proud of how much we have accomplished and will continue to do so in the future to meet that end.

For the last couple of weeks, the club has been collecting used t-shirts to use as material for the toys. Thanks to our members and fellow peers, we collected more than enough t-shirts to make our project come to fruition– we could not have done it without your stinky shirts.

Photo by author, December 12, 2024.

The first workshop was held at the middle school campus on December 12th over the lunch break. Our dedicated members, devoted club advisor Mrs. Gips, and gracious Mrs. Trang poured their hearts into ensuring that it went smoothly and the middle schoolers enjoyed it. The workshop went even better than expected, with kids from every grade pitching in a hand to braid rope toys and fashion creative ball toys for the dogs. The atmosphere was jolly, with the smell of hot chocolate permeating from the hot chocolate stand nearby and holiday decorations lining the tables and fences all around us. We ended up making well over forty dog toys, all uniquely decorated and ready to be played with.

Photo by author, December 12, 2024.

Now, as the last week of school approaches, the Humane Society beseeches you to donate even more old t-shirts to the drive so that we can stage a similar workshop at the high school. We can double, or even triple, the amount of dog toys we make with your help! So, don’t forget to pitch by donating t-shirts and making dog toys during the workshop. Give back this holiday season to the little toyless puppies waiting for their forever homes in local shelters and spread the joy!

Photo by author, December 12, 2024.

I especially thank my sister, Zofia Rosciszewski, the craftier one of us two-- I could never braid as well as you! I also thank Abigail Stewart, my Vice President, and Colette Lindy, my Secretary. This club would be nothing without you two.

Photo by author, December 12, 2024.