4th Graders in Keansburg to Open a Store to Raise Money for K9 Dogs

A wonderful teacher in Monmouth County is helping her students open the "Paw Prints on Our Hearts" store this month!

Barbara Leary is a fourth grade teacher at Caruso Elementary in Keansburg, where she educates her students about choosing a charities to support, volunteering, collecting donations, and learning all aspects of operating a store. Students will hold positions like cashier, bagger, personal shopper, security, stock, and more. In fact, each student has to go through a job interview with Mrs. Leary to apply for a position!

Students also learn the art of advertising, designing invitations, and making commercials. Then the students will price all donated items according to supply and demand. Students are running the entire store.

Whether or not your child attends this school, you are welcome to visit their store. The store will be open to the public from Tuesday, March 28th through Thursday, March 30th, from 5 pm - 7 pm, in room 304. Merchandise available for sale will include pet items, toys, books, housewares, and edible treats for both pets and humans. Items will sell for 25-cents to $20. The Joseph C. Caruso Elementary School is at 81 Frances Place in Keansburg.

There will also be raffles for items such as Jets and Giants memorabilia, iPlay America iRide Plus Passes, a Family Fun Pack to Fun Time America, a free night's stay at Courtyard Marriot in Lincroft, and dinners for two at local restaurants. All raffle tickets will cost $1, and winners do not need to be present to win. Winning tickets will be drawn on Thursday, March 30th at 2:20 p.m.

Money raised will benefit the Monmouth County Sheriff Department's K-9 Unit and the Monmouth County SPCA.

These students will also open a restaurant in the classroom beginning on May 23rd! In fact, they have actually been quite busy since the school year began. First they opened a 'barkery' where they sold baked goodies for people and treats for cats and dogs and raised almost $750. Then they went out to Texas Roadhouse in Holmdel a couple of times to raise money and made close to $800. After that they volunteered to wrap gifts for the holidays and raised over $100, and some of these kids even went to the MCSPCA after school to donate toys and spend time reading books to the adorable adoptable animals awaiting their forever homes. (Actually, one student ended up adopting two cats named Peek and Boo from the shelter a couple of days after seeing them!)

If you attend the MCSPCA annual Dog Walk and Pet Fair on April 29th, you will see some of Mrs. Leary's class participants in action!

If you would like to donate items to be sold at the fourth grade store, you can drop off toys, books, housewares, pet items, and gift cards before March 28. The Joseph C. Caruso Elementary School is at 81 Frances Place in Keansburg, so you can drop things off during school hours.

For more info, email Barbara Leary at bleary@keansburg.k12.nj.us.