Loudoun County High School Raider Outreach Project

Loudoun County High School students Teagan Oliver, Bella & John Wolcott, Rachel Reppert, Ashley Rubino chose to work with HSLC this year to “impact our local animals in and outside of rescue shelters. With this in mind, we decided to build cat cots and feeding colonies.”

The purpose of the Raider Outreach Program is to provide Loudoun County High School seniors with the opportunity to better themselves and the community through civic engagement. After AP exams, qualifying seniors are excused from academic classes to conduct a community service project. Students must complete a total of 65 hours at their host site over the three-week allotted time.

HSLC provided the necessary plans and the students calculated they needed to raise over $200 for the supplies to complete their project. “We decided to have a bake sale at the Giant in Leesburg, and each of our team members baked goods to give to customers with their donations. Within 2 days of fundraising we exceeded our goal and raised $233.82.”

With the help of Home Depot to cut the wood and PVC pipes, Lowe’s for the paint and PVC pipe connectors, and Joann Fabrics for the vinyl material for the cots, the students successfully made two cat cots and two colony feeder stations.

“It amazed us how five people coming together and working towards a common goal for just a short two weeks can impact the community and its animals in such a positive way. Our actions not only benefited the jobs of Loudoun Humane Society members, but the lives of the rescue and wild cats as well.”