news-record.com

GREENSBORO — High school students volunteer for just about everything.

They clean up neighborhoods, collect food for the poor and visit with the elderly as part of various service groups such as National Honor Society and Beta Club.

At Grimsley High School, more than 40 spend their weekends walking dogs and standing outside PetSmart to encourage shoppers to adopt a furry friend.

The school has the only JR. SPCA in the county, said Sharon Knight , manager of the SPCA of the Triad’s center on Hines Chapel Road. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a nonprofit animal rescue group. The local chapter opened in 1994 .

“It’s great to see them taking the responsibility and committing to helping with something like that,” Knight said.

Grimsley senior Blair Bloomquist, 17 , started the JR. SPCA club last year after volunteering with her family for the rescue group.

“It’s real important for kids to understand it’s important to spay and neuter their animals,” Bloomquist said. “And to see when people are irresponsible, the consequences of that.”

The group started with about 65 members last year. So far this year, there are 45 . Bloomquist is trying to recruit more underclassmen to keep the program running next year after she graduates.

Besides volunteering at the center and adoption fairs, members also collect food and supplies. And last year, they raised more than $2,000 for the SPCA by selling wreaths.

Bloomquist, whose family rescued two dogs that would have been euthanized, trains the other students.

“She’s really done a great job of making sure things run smoothly,” Knight said.

Bloomquist hopes to talk with students at Northwest Guilford and Page high schools about starting clubs at their schools.

“This could be great for all over the county,” Bloomquist said. “I don’t think it should just apply to Grimsley.”

“I think that would be amazing,” Knight said. “The more kids you get, it brings awareness not only to them, but also their siblings and families.”

Bloomquist plans to start a similar club while at college, where she plans to study to be a vet.

“I definitely think it’s important to make people aware of the problem,” Bloomquist said. “I think creating a group like this is a good start.”

Contact Jennifer Fernandez at 373-7064 or jennifer.fernandez@news-record.com