Health Occupation Students of America are donating supplies to the Animal Care & Adoption Center as one of their community service projects this year. They’re looking for gently used blankets, pet food and toys to provide for the animals. HOSA will be accepting donations from students and staff to drop off in room 70 until Feb. 8.

Tossing around the idea of different projects were narrowed down in an easy fashion and the added element of the weather contributed to HOSA’s decision to contribute to the animal shelter.

“A few of the members and I were thinking about what service project we could do and doing something for the animal shelter seemed to be a perfect fit,” senior Alan Alvarado said. “The animals could use some blankets to stay warm in this really cold winter weather.”

With HOSA being a small organization, they hope to gain resources from individuals around the school to fulfill the goal of giving back to the animal shelter as much as necessary.

“I feel like there will be a lot of people that donate,” Alvarado said. “I’m bringing a large bag of dog food to help our efforts in this project.”

Lending a hand toward a worthy cause helps develop characteristics in the members that produce a unique mindset for people looking to pursue a career in humanities. The animal shelter project enables HOSA to actively search for opportunities to better the livelihood of the organization and the community.

“Donating to the animal shelter helps us build our character as future health professionals,” senior Vy Doan said. “I believe that it will provide the awareness need for an issue people care about and perhaps we can teach someone in the process.”