Whitko Jr./Sr. High School FCCLA presents donations to B.A.B.E. and Whitley County Humane Society.

WHITKO — Whitko FCCLA (Family Career and Community Leaders of America) students and family and consumer science teacher Amy Richards presented checks to B.A.B.E. of Whitley County and Whitley County Humane Society. Each check totaled $250.

The funds raised were announced earlier in March as part of a larger campaign including a $500 scholarship to an FCCLA senior and a $250 donation to Whitko’s Jarrod Day.

B.A.B.E. of Whitley County, whose mission is “to provide quality incentives to parents who participate in preventive and prenatal care, including parenting, educational and nutritional classes to promote healthy pregnancy, birth outcome and early childhood development,” was represented by Executive Director Jacie Stahl. Stahl shared with the students gathered that their donation would be used to continue assisting young mothers and their children. The donations needed by B.A.B.E. are similar to the items which can often be in highest demand for new families.

Abbi Ogden, the director for Whitley County Humane Society, expressed her thanks to the students and explained that the animal shelter helps homeless animals from throughout the entire county. Last year, the shelter helped find new homes for a little over 1,100 animals. Of those, approximately 500 were cats and 400 were dogs.