Small service makes a big difference
Minnie Musso holds fleece tied blankets bound for Humane Colorado. Minnie organized and ran the service project where she, friends and family made dog blankets and cat scratchers.
Minnie Musso, a Village at Castle Pines resident and Rock Canyon High School sophomore, recently organized a service project to make items for the local animal shelter. Minnie and her team collected and crafted about 10 fleece dog blankets and nearly 20 cardboard cat scratchers for the Humane Colorado (formerly the Dumb Friends League) animal shelter.
Minnie gathered supply donations and rallied friends, family and members of her church congregation to help with the project. All counted, she had 30 people participate. Minnie estimated she spent 10-15 hours planning, gathering supplies and working on the items. Adding all the time spent, including individual hours for everyone who participated, her project generated about 40 hours of community service.
Minnie has a soft spot in her heart for animals and always has. The Musso family has two dogs and two cats. But her love spreads beyond the family pets. While living in Minnesota, Minnie regularly visited dogs in a shelter with her church group. Sad to see the dogs starved for attention but then so happy when the group visited, Minnie was “devastated that we couldn’t adopt them all and give them a better life,” she said.
With those memories in mind, Minnie set out to make a small difference in the lives of animals at our local shelter. She understands the value of small service projects and how they can do some good and bring a community together.
Despite the time, effort and work for her volunteer project, Minnie loved the camaraderie it created. “Seeing everyone come together was so cool and heartwarming,” she said.
Minnie is always looking for ways to reach out and help her community. “I recommend doing a service project to anyone who is looking to help the community. Everyone can help!”
Kara and Luca Harrington cut cardboard to assemble cat scratchers for Minnie’s service project benefiting Humane Colorado.
By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Mary Jane Ogle
