Aidan, 8 (left), and Madeleine Heller, 10, present Jennifer Stinett, shelter supervisor of the San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter with a donation they raised collecting cans around their Dana Point neighborhood. Photo by Andrea Papagianis
By Andrea Papagianis
Brother and sister team, Aidan and Madeleine Heller, ages 8 and 10, took an idea their veterinarian mother and father suggested and ran with it. Over the last four months, the siblings recruited their neighbors in a recycling effort to benefit the San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter.
Last Wednesday, the two dropped off a $200 donation they accumulated through the collection and selling back of aluminum cans, benefitting both the shelter and the environment.
“So many of our younger customers and students in the area are willing to give back to the shelter,” said Jennifer Stinett, shelter supervisor of the San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter. “Instead of accepting gifts for them, kids are asking for donations, and it’s amazing to see young kids helping shelter animals.”