Dorchester youth raises funds to help local animal shelter

Last year, it was a lemonade stand. This year it was a bottle drive. But whichever way she chose to raise the funds, eight-year-old Danika Fawcett has put her whole heart into collecting money for a cause that has become important to her.

For the second year in a row, Danika spent several days of her summer vacation to raise funds for the Pat Cormier Memorial Fundraiser for the Lillian Allbon Animal Shelter in Amherst.

"I am so pleased that Dan wants to do this for the shelter," said Danika's grandmother Amy Cormier.

Danika and her grandmother set out on Sept. 2-3 to collect bottles and cash donations in support of the cause, raising more than $275 in the process - even more than last year. They turned the money over to the shelter on Sept. 4.

"Danika worked hard collecting bottles and loading them and even helped out at the redemption centre in Memramcook," said Amy.

As back-to-school days neared for the Dorchester youth, Amy said her granddaughter, who had been in summer camp in Sackville all summer long, was getting a bit worried that she wasn't going to have the opportunity to fundraise for the shelter this year.

"We had initially thought of picking blueberries and blackberries and having a bake sale table to sell blueberry pies and muffins and just containers of blueberries; however, my field was very poor and we couldn't pick enough to do much with so we were running out of summer vacation and time," said Amy, "so this is the only idea we came up with quickly. We managed to get it done and she's so proud of herself, as I am of her. Danika is the kindest, sweetest child, who always thinks of others first and wanting to help in any way she can."

Amy said she and Danika were both pleased with the support shown from the community for the fundraiser, which was created in memory of Pat Cormier, Amy's mother-in-law who passed away last year.

"We loved to do this for the shelter because, as with all shelters, the need is greater than ever with the downturn in the economy."

Amy said Pat was always the first person to help or rescue a dog in need and believes she is smiling down on her family for supporting this cause.

"We hope to get people motivated to adopt a shelter pet, or at least to donate."