Patterson Elementary students sell ‘paws’ for a good cause

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Dawsyn Plummer and Deirdre Dan...

HOLLY, Michigan – Students at Patterson Elementary School are helping to make sure no child in the Holly community goes without a Christmas present this year, and they’re doing it one paw at a time.

From now until Dec. 4, Patterson students, as well as parents and teachers affiliated with Team Patterson, the school PTO organization, will take part in “Paws for a Cause,” a fundraiser whereby the group hopes to provide 400 plush teddy bears to Holly Area Youth Assistance Jacobson/Quinn Toy Drive.

Students do so by selling paper paws to those willing to make a $5 donation. For every four paws sold, Holly Area Youth Assistance receives one cuddly teddy bear for the toy drive.

“When I called HAYA and asked how many kids they gave presents to last year, they told me 760,” Patterson teacher and Team Patterson liaison Deirdre Dannecker said. “We didn’t think we could do that many, but we settled on 400 – it’s a lot, but we think it’s possible for us to do.”

As an incentive, students will receive a raffle ticket for every four paws sold. Two major gifts – a $50 gift certificate for Chuck E. Cheese and a $50 gift certificate for dinner and a movie will be raffled off. The class that sells the most paws wins a pizza party.

Dannecker said Team Patterson will be selling paws at the upcoming downtown Holly Ladies’ Night Out, from 5-9 p.m. on Nov. 13. Additionally, paws will be sold at Kroger on Dixie Highway in Davisburg on Nov. 28.   Dannecker said the group hopes to piggy back efforts with HAYA when they hold a bake sale at Holly Foods on Nov. 21.

“If people want to help us out, they can call the school or come in and buy paws in the office,” Dannecker said. “We’re hoping that by the end of this, we have the walls of the lobby papered with paws purchased by the generous people of our community.”

For more information, to make a donation, or to purchase a paw or two, contact Patterson Elementary School office at (248) 328-3700.