Dominic Trupiano and Jaydon Siebert, who were eighth-graders last school year and will be freshmen in the fall, recently raised over $1,800 for the Alcona County animal shelter in Lincoln for their school Make a Difference project.

Every Alcona eighth-grader worked during the school year on a Make a Difference project. The students were able to choose their topics and groups. The topic had to involve a problem they found in the school, community, or world.

The students presented their projects to classmates and the public in late May.

Trupiano and Siebert had their project focus on the Alcona County animal shelter. They visited the shelter to spend time with the animals. They fed the kittens, played with the cats, and gave them treats. They also helped by washing the cat and dog dishes.

News Photo by Julie Goldberg Dominic Trupiano and Jaydon Siebert stand with all the items they bought for the Alcona County animal shelter.

“Dominic and Jaydon are huge animal fans, so they wanted to do something with pets, and so we started out with shelters and then we started out with volunteering and raising money for the shelter when we found out they were in danger of closing,” school paraprofessional Serena Birk said.

Trupiano said they played with a dog, Wilson, and gave him a Kong toy to play with.

Trupiano and Siebert went to local businesses in mid-May, asking for donations for the shelter. They received donations of either money, gift cards, or an item for the animals from Walmart, Meijer, Tractor Supply, Lincoln Hardware, and others.

Birk said Trupiano and Siebert enjoyed going to the businesses and talking to the adults about it. She said the students had a speech prepared when going to the businesses.

“We practiced in the car on the way there, a lot of practicing, but they did it,” Cindy Sharboneau, a paraprofessional at Alcona Community Schools, said. “They really enjoyed doing it.”

Courtesy Photo Trupiano and Siebert sit next to some Kongs they gave the dogs at the Alcona County animal shelter.

They also received $1,000 through a GoFundMe page to receive monetary donations from the public.

Trupiano and Siebert spent a day in June going to Walmart, Lincoln Hardware, and Tractor Supply shopping for toys, food, cleaning supplies, and bedding for the cats and dogs at the shelter, using the monetary donations they received. Trupiano, Siebert, Birk, and Sharboneau filled four carts at Walmart.

“I think they’re in absolute amazement,” Birk said.

Trupiano and Siebert delivered the items to the animal shelter after the shopping was done.

“We went to the animal shelter, we volunteered, we also gave Wilson a kong,” Trupiano said.

News Photo by Julie Goldberg Trupiano and Siebert pick out some cat and dog toys at Walmart.

“I think they’re going to want to play with them with the toys is probably going to be what they want to do,” Birk said. “They remember this kind of stuff, they remember giving Wilson the dog that was there a Kong, so they’re going to remember what they’re doing. It’s definitely had an impact on them, for sure.”

Alcona Community Schools Superintendent Dan O’Connor said the ultimate goal is to have students channel their passion, and that was shown throughout the projects.

“It’s another example of two young men jumping to the challenge,” O’Connor said. “In Northeast Michigan, people find ways to rally around something that is close to their heart. We’re glad to be a small part of this project.”

Courtesy Photo Trupiano and Siebert brush one of the cats at the Alcona County animal shelter.