SPECIAL LEFTOVERS; HOMELESS PETS GET LUNCH-MONEY CHANGE.

Byline: Krystn Shrieve Staff Writer

Students at Colina Middle School are giving up their spare change to help animals waiting to be adopted at the Agoura Animal Shelter.

Buckets placed in the school cafeteria are filling up with coins and bills that students deposit after paying for their lunch. So far students have raised about $60 and hope to continue the fund raising through the end of the year.

``We felt like any amount of money would be of help,'' said Rebecca Nichols, a vice president in the school's Parent-Teacher-Student Association. ``The student leaders feel like the whole school is behind them.''

Eighth-grader Harmony Sunday, a student vice president in the PTSA, said the students have been generous.

``We didn't think we'd get as much money as we did,'' said Harmony, 14. ``People really like animals. It's so sad because there are so many of them in the shelter, and some might have to be put to sleep. It's not fair.''

Nichols and parent Robin Kahrs, another PTSA vice president, said the project improves the students' leadership skills and helps them become more involved in their community.

``Many of our children live nice lifestyles and don't realize there are many others in need - whether they are animals in the shelter, homeless people or others,'' Kahrs said. ``It's important for them to learn how to give back, and hopefully this will stay with them and they will continue to give when they're older.''

Kahrs said the proceeds will pay for needed supplies for the animal shelter. Later in the school year, the students plan to collect blankets, leashes, food bowls and other equipment that can be donated to the shelter.

``At the end of last year, we put together a list of potential projects, including the animal shelter, and they wholeheartedly loved the idea,'' Kahrs said. ``The kids have been so enthusiastic about it, and the buckets are almost half-full, not just with coins but with $5 and $10 bills.''

Frank Bongiorno, a field supervisor at the Agoura Animal Shelter, said all donations go directly to the dogs and cats for anything from food or medication to tasty treats.

``Any amount of money helps,'' Bongiorno said. ``And $60 is a lot of money for a group to raise. We've had kids come in here to donate $10 from their cookie sales, and that means a lot to us.''

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PHOTO (color) Eighth-grader Harmony Sunday, right, holds a jar of money that students at Colina Middle School in Thousand Oaks have donated to the Agoura Animal Shelter. With her are, from left, Sabrina Dorriz, Amanda Waitsman, Katie Christiansen and Nicole Ortloff.

Phil McCarten/Staff Photographer