By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

NORTH SHELBY—Dogs and cats at the Shelby Humane Society are a little happier thanks to the hard work of an Oak Mountain Elementary School student.

Third grader Will Lancaster organized a school-wide fundraiser and supply-drive to benefit the Shelby Humane Society from Jan. 20 through Jan. 30. Lancaster decorated drop-off boxes for each grade, and at the end of every day, he gathered the items collected in the boxes.

At the end of the drive, the OMES community had donated numerous cleaning supplies, collars, foldable cages, dog and cat food and more than $225 in donations.

“It was just so fun seeing all of that,” Lancaster said of all of the items donated by the school community for the Shelby Humane Society.

Lancaster’s love of animals sparked his idea to start the supply-drive at OMES.

“I just love dogs so much, and I wanted to help save dogs that don’t have homes,” Lancaster explained.

On his own, Lancaster devised a plan and then presented it to OMES Principal Debbie Horton. After receiving her approval, he spoke with teachers in each grade to see if they would be willing to place a donation box in their classrooms.

“At first, I was a little scared,” Lancaster said. “But I realized it was much easier than I thought it would be.”

Lancaster researched the Shelby Humane Society’s needs on the organization’s website and decorated donation boxes with pictures of animals. At the end of the drive, he collected the items and delivered them to the Shelby Humane Society.

“It was really hard to leave without getting an animal,” Lancaster said with a laugh. “It made me really happy that all the dogs and animals got food and toys until they get adopted.”