Brookhaven Animal Rescue League: Build-A-Bear Youth Humane Education Grant Report

How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?

See below.

We strongly believe that by teaching our children empathy and kindness to animals, we can work towards a generation of people who do not see pets as disposable, which is the current mindset for many people in our state today.

How many pets did this grant help?

Countless

Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.

The money was used to expand our humane-education program. BARL purchased Kind News magazine subscriptions for 2,200 second and third graders in Copiah, Franklin and Lincoln Counties. The students will receive five issues of the magazine during the school year. Kind News teaches kids to care for animals. Engaging articles, colorful illustrations, activities and games inspire readers to explore the relationship between people and animals and develop the knowledge and skills necessary for empathy. In addition, BARL purchased seven animal-themed books for each of the 10 school libraries. The books focused on pet care, pet adoption and kindness towards animals. The last $50 of the grant was used to purchase items for us to give to students when we speak to school groups and to use at our Kids Camp (animal pencils, stickers, etc.). While this grant did not focus on a specific pet, we believe it will benefit many pets. Attached are pictures of the books we gave to the schools, and one school representative receiving the books.