The Buckhead Rotary Club brought two of its signature projects together in a Valentine’s Day effort to benefit shelter dogs and children who have experienced homelessness themselves.

Buckhead Rotary members visited The Boyce L. Ansley School to make dog and cat toys with the students, grades K – 6 and write Valentine’s Day messages for the animals at LifeLine Animal Project. The club also purchased more than 20 crates for the animals in the shelter, and the children wrote messages to adorn the crates saying things like “I hope you get adopted soon,” and “I love you.” A foster dog was brought in to participate in the event, giving the children a hands-on lesson in how to pet a dog safely, while enjoying a few treats from the kids as well. 

The project was made possible in part by a grant from The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International to support education, one of the organization’s seven areas of focus. The grant funded the purchase of the crates, the art supplies and Valentine’s Day cookies for the children.

The Boyce Ansley School and LifeLine Animal project are two of the club’s signature community service projects, meaning they each receive donations ever year, over three years. The signature projects provide focus for the club, and allow it, through funding and by providing volunteers over the three years, to make a more significant impact on key charities in the community.

 The Boyce L. Ansley School is a tuition-free, private school for children who have or are currently experiencing homelessness. LifeLine Animal Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the largest animal welfare organization in Georgia. LifeLine manages DeKalb and Fulton County Animal Services, the only open-intake shelters in Atlanta.