FROM STAFF REPORTS

NORTH SHELBY – Oak Mountain Elementary second-grader Parker Verant wanted to do a service project for his school to collect donations for the Shelby County Humane Society.

But in order to put a collection bin in the front office and do the project school-wide, he knew he needed to get the approval of Principal Debbie Horton.

So, Parker set up a meeting with Horton and came prepared to make his plea—complete with a seven-slide PowerPoint presentation with photos and an explanation of why he wanted to do the project.

“I was really nervous,” he admitted about his meeting with Horton. But after hearing him confidently explain why he is passionate about helping the animals at the Humane Society, Horton quickly agreed to his proposal.

Parker said his desire to do the project started when he first attended a birthday party at the Humane Society and saw how many animals the shelter cares for. When his birthday rolled around on Nov. 20 of last year, he asked his friends to donate items to the shelter instead of bringing him birthday presents.

His love for shelter animals has led to him adopting two of his own, one dog and one cat. All total, his family has eight pets because they love nature and helping animals.

If you would like to support Parker’s efforts to collect donations, the following items are needed: dog and cat food, newspapers, towels, blankets, pet toys, dog and cat brushes, and pet nail clippers.

The collection bin, which he decorated to look like an adorable pup, is located just inside the front office at Oak Mountain Elementary.