Kenbrook Elementary Junior Optimists Raise $250 with Cuddly Friends

Students at  in Farmington Hills showed some "Animal Love" on March 25, bringing their stuffed animals to school to raise $250 for a metro Detroit animal shelter.

The Kenbrook Junior Optimist club, which is new this year, offered students the opportunity to bring their beloved toys to school – which is normally not allowed – in exchange for a donation of $1. The kids came up with the idea, parent volunteer Marilyn Rollinger said, and made signs to promote the fundraiser. 

"All the money is going to the Royal Oak Animal Shelter," she said. "One of the girls in our group had gotten a kitten from there. We're going to take the check over after the (spring) break." 

Rollinger, whose teenaged children Jacob and Olivia run the group, said students were surprised by how well the event did.

"They were just in awe," she said. "They couldn't believe there was that much money ... It was a huge success."