Students help TRACS

by Karen Olson

A creative collaboration between the Plains High School shop and art classes has brought charm and craftsmanship to the local animal shelter’s fundraising efforts. When Thompson River Animal Care Shelter approached the school for help creating wooden donation boxes, the students eagerly took on the challenge — and the results were nothing short of amazing.

Seniors Caleb Lakko and Isaiah Pasemen learned woodworking skills by cutting and assembling boxes. They used wood and supplies donated by Thompson River Lumber and Studs Building & Home. Their instructor, Kyle Mitchell, guided them during the project.

Once the sturdy wooden boxes were complete, the project was handed off to the art class, under Kristen Coles’s leadership. That’s where senior Ava Warta, with assistance from Eleanor Bebb, added their imaginative flair with delightful depictions of cats and dogs to celebrate the shelter’s furry residents.

The boxes will be displayed in area businesses where they’ll be used to collect much-needed donations to support abandoned and rescued animals.

“We’re so grateful to the students, their teachers, and the businesses that donated materials,” said Karen Olson with TRACS. “These boxes are not just practical —they’re a work of art.”