18 Nov 2010 Caring Cats help with Angel Paws

The event marks the beginning of the club’s annual Christmas program, Angel Paws. 

Beginning Nov. 1 and running through Christmas break, the program is very similar to the traditional Angel Tree held in many churches and some businesses. Students decorate a tree in the high school cafeteria with paws representing different needs of families and kids in the local community.

Designed to be affordable for high school students, the needs are broken down into individual items such as socks and shirts. 

In years past, this formula has made a huge difference in the lives of Conway students.  The Angel Paws helps an average of 50 families per year with more than 1,000 gifts donated.

Student involvement in the program is astonishing. “Our club has grown to 272 members this year!” said Cheryl Daniels, head sponsor for the Caring Cats Club. Student members of the club help in all aspects of the program, including organizing and posting event boards throughout the school. 

Not only organizing the event, students are very active in the purchasing of the items on the tree.

“It’s hard for the kids to stop buying,” explained Cheryl. “Kids will sacrifice their Christmas gifts for money to give to Angel Paws.”

Members of the community come to pick up and distribute the unwrapped gifts during the school day to keep the anonymous nature of the donations.

“We have had great support from the community, including several donated bicycles,” said Cheryl. 

Since the creation of Angel Paws, Caring Cats has added a toy drive in which Tom Brannon from Today’s THV News is readily involved each year. 

The Powder Puff Football fundraiser and Angel Paws are two of many contributions made to the community by the students of Conway High’s Caring Cats Club. 

With the help of Rhonda Travis and Yvonne Bradden, sponsors Cheryl Daniels and Shirley Williamson, this wonderful group of high school students lead the way in community service throughout the year.