Old Town -
The Old Town-Orono Animal Orphanage is temporarily shut down due to an outbreak at the shelter. An eighth grader at Leonard Middle School heard the news and wanted to help out.
Kassidy Harriman was inspired during a school assembly where members of the "I Will" campaign spoke to the students about giving back.
"They talked about how in honor of the 9/11 victims, we would do a good deed every year," said Harriman.
Then, Harriman saw a news story about the Old Town-Orono Animal Orphanage and knew exactly what her good deed would be.
The orphanage recently had to close its doors after an outbreak of scabies and ringworm. Harriman talked to her school guidance counselor about organizing a fundraiser and got her friend Alexis Hawes to help out.
"I used to volunteer there all the time so it kind of means something to me too," said Hawes.
School Counselor Tracey O'Connell pointed the girls in the right direction, but she says they did most of the organizing themselves.
"It actually shows how when you really give kids a spark and passion about something they really believe in, all the learning that happens from that," said O'Connell.
The girls are trying to raise $1,500 to donate to the shelter.
Hawes said, "It's very costly to have 60 cats with scabies and ringworm."
"Because they have to have medicine everyday and that adds up to a lot of money," added Harriman.
The president of the animal orphanage, Roberta Fowler, says the community has been very supportive, but she was especially happy when these students contacted her.
Fowler said, "When you see young adults like this actually taking the bull by the horns and not sitting by and waiting for other people to do it. It just makes me feel very good inside."
The cats are starting to feel good too. Fowler said if all goes as planned, the shelter should be back open by the first week of October.
The girls are hosting two fundraisers this weekend. They'll have a table set up on Saturday, September 22 outside of Bell's IGA in Orono from 12:00-3:00 PM and on Sunday, September 23 outside of Sam's Club in Bangor from 12:00 - 5:00 PM.
They'll be selling raffle tickets for gift cards to local businesses. They'll also be taking donations.
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