NEW DIANA, Texas (KLTV) – New Diana middle schoolers are helping solve real-world issues early through a rare grant obtained by their National Junior Honor Society Chapter.
“This is going to help a lot of people with the overpopulated pet problem we’ve been having,” NJHS Treasurer Macus Blonde said.
“It’s funny how many students aren’t aware of the problems and challenges that face small towns like ours,” Jackie France, NJHS Advisor said.
With what they’ve learned through community service, New Diana’s National Junior Honor Society is creating change.
“We’ve volunteered before at the Longview Animal Care and Adoption Center,” Blonde said. “They have this demonstration that shows if one dog goes un-spayed or unneutered, it can end up reproducing over and over again. Stray dogs are a big problem in Diana.”
Through a student-led grant application, they secured $1,000 to go towards service in their area.
“We were looking through what we really needed as a community and what would help us,” NJHS President Reid Verzosa said. “When we got the grant, we realized Diana really didn’t have an opportunity to help animals. Stray dogs, Stray cats.”
“We preach to these kids, we really strive to educate the public and especially this younger generation,” Brittany Mills, Longview Animal Care and Adoption Center Outreach Coordinator said. “To see these kids become this active, this young…they wanted to be part of the positive, part of the change.”
They decided to fund spay and neuter procedures for pets owned by New Diana residents.
“I think the service to the community is important because it’s what gets everything going,” NJHS Vice President Eli Akin said.
“To watch them come up with an idea that is going to impact people right here where we live, it just made me well up with pride. I’m just very proud of them,” France said.
With the money, they’ll be able to cover nine pet surgeries.
“It’s just rewarding,” NJHS member Sean Rice said. “Just to see the change that is made throughout and how this affects people’s lives. Because it really does.”
“As a member of NJHS, serving is a very joyful part to me,” Blonde said, “because when Jesus came to the Earth, he came not to be served but to serve. So, I think that is a mission that we can make a big impact in as a member of NJHS.”
And their action doesn’t end there.
With the remaining grant funds, the students will educate other New Diana campuses on proper animal care and Texas pet laws.
In addition, this Thursday from 4:30 – 6:30pm, the NJHS students will partner with the FFA to host a free dog wash and $10 rabies vaccine clinic.
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