Waldorf students honor MLK with day of service
(Courtesy photo) A Sandpoint Waldorf student gives some love to one of the Panhandle Animal Shelter’s cats during the school’s day of service at the shelter on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
(Courtesy photo) A Sandpoint Waldorf student reads to one of the Panhandle Animal Shelter’s cats — hiding under a blanket-covered bench.
The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. teaches service, leadership, love and elevating one’s fellows. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day students from the Sandpoint Waldorf School gave back to their community by volunteering. The shelter was lucky enough to be selected as a place to spend their day of service., said Panhandle Animal Shelter staff.
Students came to the Panhandle Animal Shelter to help animals waiting for new families and to tidy up the thrift store.
“The Waldorf students eagerly jumped into the tasks at hand; washing nose prints from windows, mopping paw prints off floors, washing and folding bedding and tidying up the thrift store,” said Andrea Featherstone, shelter communication manager.
As a fun and relaxing element of their volunteer duties, Featherstone said the Waldorf students used the new Little Library outside of the cat rooms.
”This library is part of the shelter’s Book Buddy program which offers young readers a relaxed non-judgmental environment to practice their reading skills,” she said. “While the Waldorf students read well above the level of the of books provided, they enjoyed the unique experience of sharing a story out loud with an attentive loving cat.”
Mandy Evans, Panhandle Animal Shelter executive director, said she was pleased to see the kids quickly get to work.
“Our goal is to be a community resource,” Evans said. “The obvious way we serve our community is through our animal assistance programs.”
Evans said the shelter staff gets a kick out of seeing the animals help the students learn the benefits of giving back.
“We are proud to support the Waldorf School in their efforts to teach kids the benefit of helping others,” she added.
“Plus, it’s especially fun to volunteer at the shelter because it usually it comes with a lick, purr or snuggle in gratitude.”