Madison Cadzow and Livie Hlushak decided to do something different for Lent this year. Instead of giving something up, they decided to go the Almsgiving route.
“Every year I have given up something. I just find it really important to help other people," said Cadzow. "Taking away something that's important to you is very important. But also, I feel helping animals or people in need is also very important."
The Grade 4 St. Albert students from Sister Alphonse Academy decided to raise money for the Edmonton Humane Society by collecting bottles around their neighbourhood.
The two went around the neighbourhood on four different occasions during the Lent season. Six or seven truckloads to the bottle depot later, they discovered they had raised $527.25 for the organization.
Cadzow, who wants to be a veterinarian when she gets older, said she chose the Humane Society because of her love of animals.
“They're smaller creatures and sometimes animals just can't live in a proper home or haven't been treated well in a proper home, and they just can't go back. So, donating money to the Humane Society makes it feel more like home for them and less like a place that they have to stay,” said Cadzow.
Hlushak said her first dog, Bauer, was from the Humane Society. They had to give him up, however, because he had expensive medical issues.
On top of a personal connection to the Humane Society, Hlushak said she had other reasons for raising the money.
“I just like doing it because I love animals,” she said.
Hlushak said her favourite part of the experience was when people had bottles to donate.
“I really liked how we went to some houses and they said, ‘Yeah, I've got some in the garage. I’ll just meet you in the front.’ That really made me happy because I really wanted to raise money,” she said.
Cadzow said the people in her neighbourhood responded very well to the bottle drive.
“Some people (were) just very, very gracious. Which is important because they're interested in the cause that we picked. It was different because at the start when we were just saying we’re raising money – anyone could say that. But then when we said, ‘Hey, we're going to do this for the Humane Society,’ lots of people are inspired by it. And they decided, ‘Hey, this is cool. Why don't I add to this cause?’” Cadzow explained.
Jason Cadzow, Madison’s father, said it was fulfilling and rewarding to see the enthusiasm and excitement from their community to support a worthy cause.
“It was a good opportunity for the kids to get out and have some positive interaction with the community members and visit some people they haven't seen for a while," he said. "It was a success and a very good, worthwhile project – community project – for a good reason and a good cause."
