Giving Back Team helps neglected and homeless animals for their SLANT 45 project
What can be said of 12 homeless children who went out of their way to find homes for homeless dogs?
That they have love in their hearts? That they have beauty? That they care for their community when afforded the chance?
All of the above?
Giving Back Team (GBT), composed of 12 second-through-eighth-graders living at Fort Worth’s Presbyterian Night Shelter, renovated Fort Woof Dog Park on Saturday for their SLANT 45 project.
The team’s goal is to raise awareness about neglected and homeless animals. The kids also encourage all of North Texas to get involved by donating pet food and by helping to beautify the popular dog park known as Fort Woof.
“Our group of kids did a tremendous job stepping up to the plate,” said Drew Myers, the team Coach and a Board Member at the Presbyterian Night Shelter the past two years. “They all have huge hearts.”
Homeward Bound and other animal rescue organizations were selected to benefit from the project. These groups received the pet food donations for setting up on-site adoption centers in conjunction with the project. GBT worked with the groups to distribute information about neglected and homeless animals in the area.
The team had met every Tuesday evening for a month, preparing its game plan for the big event. At one point, Myers handed out titles to a few kids, putting them in charge of specific needs.
A young boy named Randy piped up, “What’s my title?”
“Wait one second,” Myers answered. “You’re going to have an important job. What would you like?”
“I want to tell people what to do,” Randy replied.
A few minutes later, Myers informed the group that Randy would be “Director of Team Operations.” Myers says Randy’s head shot up and there was a twinkle in his eyes the rest of the day.
Of course, the shelter’s primary concern is finding permanent housing for the homeless, which means there is an ever-shifting landscape. Two kids on the team had moved out of the shelter that very morning. Myers says if enough of them are still around GBT may return to the park this fall and plant a tree.
The team has several important supporters helping drive their SLANT 45 project, including the Fort Worth Zoo Wild Wonders Program that gave a presentation for the kids that afternoon; The Gary Patterson Foundation that funded much of Saturday’s event; Fuddruckers for providing lunch for the kids and volunteers; The T for providing transportation to and from the shelter and dog park; the City of Fort Worth Parks and Recreation Department; Canine Advanced Training Services; and, the Fort Woof Dog Park. Living Earth and The Greenery also donated decomposed granite for the team’s beautification efforts.
“The generosity from our supporters was overwhelming,” said Myers, who also introduced the program to the Giving Back Team. “So many people helped make this a beneficial and memorable experience for an amazing group of kids.”
When the team returned from the park, the parents joined their kids for lunch. Even a mom of one of the boys who could not make it pulled Myers aside and thanked him for what he and the SLANT 45 program had done for the kids.
But the real giving was provided by the Giving Back Team.
The Giving Back Team is just one of many, many service-learning initiatives taking place all over North Texas, thanks to creative learning non-profit Big Thought, and the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee. Register online now.
