Thanks to a semester-long effort between staff and students, Central Collegiate High School donated $600 to SCRAPS this past Friday.

The fundraising started when a teacher at the local high school, Ray Rawlyck, realized how much of a stray cat problem Moose Jaw has. In fact, he does his own work to try and find cats their own forever homes.

Rawlyck has two cats of his own, but also a little cat sanctuary at his house. With heated cat houses and mats, heated water bowls, and food set out for stray cats, he takes in around half a dozen strays and helps to find them homes by himself. Perpetually helping animals as they come through.

Seeing how SCRAPS also helps strays, don't have their own building, and rely solely on donations, Rawlyck decided to take the time to ask for donations each semester at the high school.

Five years ago, he began speaking about stray animals in Moose Jaw, and when he found out how many students and staff there were animal lovers, he saw that they could really get together and do something for the local animal rescue organization.

It started off relatively small, but it has grown and spread these past couple years thanks to the students at the school.

"It's more kids that are becoming involved for sure, that I've seen," Rawlyck explained. "At the start, we raised a lot of money with a few people donating quite a substantial amount but now I'm seeing more kids who are contributing minor amounts, you know five bucks, but I'm getting fifty to a hundred kids who are doing that."

This past Friday, they handed off a $600 donation to SCRAPS. Next semester, they'll start raising money all over again for another animals rescue group, the Free to Be Me Animal Sanctuary.

"I never hear much of the people from Free to Be Me asking for donations and stuff and I say 'boy, that's quite the thing to run on your own,' and so I took a trip out there and I was just in awe of what these people are doing. Just stoic, dedicated people and I'd like to be a part of that."

This is Rawlyck's and Central's second year of splitting semesters to raise for two separate organizations. Last year, they raised $800 for the sanctuary.

All the money is raised by staff and students. With connections they have and with money, they can collect. They don't often have community donations but would be happy to accept any. Rawlyck is just pleased with how much animal welfare has improved over the past few years in Moose Jaw.

Each year, they manage to raise anywhere between $500 and $1000 for the local animal rescues. 

SCRAPS also has their "Santa Claws - 9 Lives Boutique" open at the Town 'n' Country Mall, which helps support their organization while also helping people find the perfect gift for their feline friend.