By JOYANNA LOVE/Senior Staff Writer

VERBENA—Verbena High School is hosting a school-wide donation drive to benefit the Chilton County Humane Society.

The idea began with a group of seniors who had heard about the recent financial difficulties the shelter faced.

Heidi Connell said she wanted to get involved after hearing the shelter was in danger of having to close.

“We were just sitting there talking and I was like, ‘Mrs. [Melissa] Ellison, we should do something about this,’” Connell said.

Ellison helped the students get a list of needs from the Humane Society.

“After I graduate I want to go to school to become a vet technician. I just love animals,” Connell said.

She said she wanted to help the shelter because if it closed there would be an increase in the number of stray cats and dogs in the area.

Kaitlyn Green said students were bringing supplies to their teachers or the school office. Ellison will take the donations to the Humane Society.

Diana Baledwin said she wanted to be involved to know that “I helped make this possible, helping it stay open.”

“I’ve always had a love for animals … I like helping animals,” Green said.

Selena Patterson also said she wanted to participate because of her love for animals. She said the humane society “is a big part of Clanton, and when I heard that my school was going to be able to do something for it I was jumping right on it. I was very excited,” Patterson said.

Ellison said school administrators had discussed if the school could help in some way, so the students’ idea received full support.

The school will be collecting cleaning supplies, such as multi-purpose cleaner and bleach, cat litter and cat/dog food through Dec. 15.

As an encouragement to students to participate, the school will host a pizza party for classrooms collecting the most items. One winning classroom will be selected from the following groups: Kindergarten through third, fourth through sixth, seventh through ninth and 10th through 12th grades.

Members of the community are welcome to participate. Donations can be given to a student or brought to the Verbena High School office. Community members can designate the class they would like to receive credit for the donation.