Schools chip in to save zoo
School coin drives total exceeds $4K

Submitted Photo In her September journal that accompanied the artwork above, Gulf Breeze Elementary School first grader Eleanor Provosty expressed her concern for The Zoo - Northwest Florida. "Help save the zoo," Provosty wrote. "Think about how the animals feel! I think it's sad." Zoo officials announced earlier this year that the must raise at least $1 million by the end of 2007 or the park will close.

With four schools reporting their coin drive results, the total exceeds $4,000.

Gifted teacher Maryetta Casey coordinated coin drives at West Navarre Primary and Holley Navarre Primary schools where students actually decorated their bottles to look like the animals! West Navarre Primary School will donate $365.80 and Holley Navarre Primary School will donate $630.13 to the Zoo of Northwest Florida!

"Zoo Coins was a tremendous success, not only for the Zoo, to benefit from the donations, but also for the students to benefit from service, creativity and academic skills," Casey reports.

Gulf Breeze Elementary seems to have won the grand prize trip to the zoo with nearly $2,000 raised. GBES teacher Kim Aldridge helped coordinate the countywide drive and hopes more schools will step up.

Peoples First employees Amber Chesterfield, Robin Harris, Ronda Vogt, Melinda Faden and Vickie Mead volunteered their time to count the bulging jars of coins from Gulf Breeze Elementary School.

Holley Navarre Intermediate raised $1079.68. "The students have been so excited during the process of collecting change for The Zoo," says coordinator Linda Matthews. "We are thrilled to have the opportunity to create "change" for our Zoo."

Submitted Photo Mike Rodgerson's fifth grade class at Gulf Breeze Elementary School poses in front of the money they donated to help save the zoo. Submitted Photo Oriole Beach Elementary School student Addie Sims donated $26.86 to the gorilla jar.The money was earned by the lemonade stand she set up in her neighborhood.