Schools
Oakdale Elementary Joins the Doyle Family for 3rd Annual Blanket Drive
Two years ago, the Blanket Drive gathered dozens of blankets, towels, sheets and small rugs to clean the cages, bathe the animals, and provide warm bedding for the shelter pets, while waiting for their "forever homes." This year, the Animal Rescue Leagu
Dedham's Chrissy Doyle has always loved animals. When she was younger, Chrissy worked for the Animal Rescue League. Now married (husband Mike) and with a family of her own, she has instilled that same type of compassion in her children. This year, daughter Grace (grade 4) and son Mickey (grade 2) have begun plans for their 3rd Annual – Animal Rescue League of Dedham – Blanket/Towel Drive.
The Animal Rescue League has been “helping animals since 1899.” The Dedham facility – The Safford Memorial Animal Care and Adoption Center – is located on a 27-acre site, next to the Pine Ridge Cemetery (the oldest pet cemetery in the US).
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Along with housing and adopting small animals, this site serves as a livestock rehabilitation center for larger animals.
Last Spring, the ARL completed a $3 million renovation, including new food and medical areas, along with indoor/outdoor rooms for their dogs, while waiting to be adopted.
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Two years ago, with the help of Oakdale teacher Heidi Nihill, the Doyle Family collected dozens of blankets, towels, sheets and small rugs. These linens are used to clean the cages, bathe the animals, and provide warm bedding for the shelter pets, while waiting for their “forever homes.”
Last year, the “Drive” became a class project for the Oakdale students and teachers of grades 1 and 3. With the increased awareness, hundreds of linens were collected and donated to the Center. Impressed by their continued efforts, this Spring Oakdale Elementary Principal Holli Armstrong, offered up her 5th grade Student Council to assist the Doyle Family and make this a school-wide project.
Principal Armstrong is “always excited to see her students choose to do something meaningful.” During the school year, Ms. Armstrong has had the students work on food drives for the Dedham Food Pantry, and they held a toy drive for the Home for Little Wanderers.
Under her guidance, the Oakdale children have “Caroled for Coins”, brought flowers to the elderly, and increased their awareness of how to help serve in the community.
So, during the month of April (starting now), the Doyle Family and the Oakdale Elementary School, are asking you to “begin your Spring cleaning.”
Go through that closet or linen cabinet at home, and bring by any (used/clean) sheets, blankets, towels, dish cloths, small scatter rugs, etc. in to the school.
Ms. Armstrong and the Student Council will be putting these items together – Chrissy Doyle, Grace and Mickey will pick them up and sort them out – Beth Finn and the folks at the Animal Rescue League in Dedham will love you.
If you would like to make any other donations, please feel free to contact the Animal Rescue League, 55 Anna`s Place, Dedham, Ma. 02026 or call them at 781-326-0729. And don`t forget to mention the Doyle/ Oakdale Annual Towel Drive.
