With a goal to protect the dog that protects the community, Santa Rita School students donated $1,000 to the Los Altos Police Department last week for a bulletproof vest for the city’s German Shepherd K-9, Lord.
It took the school’s student council only a week to raise the money for the protective gear, according to Alex Ward, council president, but it wasn’t easy.
“We were working like crazy,” said sixth-grader Joe Kull, student council vice president. “We were selling hats with dogs’ faces and ears on them, we had a bake sale, sold candy during recess, had a pet photo contest.”
Santa Rita Principal Alyssa Gallagher said the fundraising drive highlighted the school’s yearly community service campaign.
“This was totally student-driven,” she said.
The plan crystalized when student councilmember Jessica Carpenter read a book about the needs of police dogs and suggested supporting the local K-9. Kull said other members jumped on the idea.
Kull and Ward said the student council’s annual presentation to the Los Altos School District Board of Trustees on school happenings inspired the trustees to chip in $100.
“It feels really good to accomplish a goal,” Ward said.
Los Altos Police Capt. Andy Galea said bulletproof vests can cost anywhere from $1,500 to $2,500, depending on the style of vest, and that the students’ donation would cover most of the cost.
Galea said the much-appreciated donation was “great.”
Contact Elliott Burr at [email protected].
