From Nov. 4 to Dec. 4, the Irish Club and Lifeguard Club teamed up to organize a pet supply drive that helped hundreds of animals throughout the community. 

Club members placed boxes around both campuses to collect donations. Items they gathered included wet and dry pet food, toys, treats, leashes, beds, blankets, wipes, litter, training pads, and cleaning supplies. 

“We do one [supply drive] in the fall, one in the spring,” Creator & Sponsor of Lifeguard Club and Irish Club, and North Campus Recycling Club sponsor, Patricia Devitt said. “We have three shelters and one foster care, who have asked for help.” 

The donations were dropped off at four different area centers: Catnap at Heart in LaGrange Park, Hinsdale Humane Society in Hinsdale, Half-way Home Animal Rescue in Orland Park, and Animal Care League in Oak Park. 

“The goal is to help animals in local shelters get the comfort they need to help local animals,” Irish Club member Nora Flood ‘27 said. “We want to show that a bunch of small actions from so many different people can truly make a difference.” 

John Moran ‘27 is involved in both clubs as the Vice President of the Lifeguard Club and Treasurer for the Irish Club. 

“We hope to raise around $500 to help the shelters around us, and personally, I hope to just make an impact, whether I help only one animal or 500,” Moran said before the drive. “The only thing that matters to me is that I made a positive impact.”

Students were not the only force behind the pet supply drive. Local businesses also pitched in. PetSmart in Countryside, Maas Auto, Prime Cuts and Lee Nails allowed the club to put donation boxes in their stores. Maas Auto also made a financial donation to the cause. Devitt initially approached Maas Auto to inquire about recycling oil for the Recycling Club, but also told them about the pet drive.

“The Maas Auto employees are pet owners,’” Devitt said. “They wanted to help the Lifeguard Pet Drive.”

The Lifeguard Club has been holding pet supply drives every year since the club was first created in 2018. 

“When I started the Lifeguard Club in 2018, we started with 40 members,” Devitt said. ” We wanted to make a difference! Everyone, except one Lifeguard Club member, had a pet, so we decided that that would be what the Lifeguard Club did for our philanthropy.” 

Supply drives like this fill a critical need, Hinsdale Humane Society Events Manager Dee Downs said.

“We receive no government funding, so we rely entirely on the generosity of our community to care for the animals at our shelter,” Downs said. “Your in-kind and monetary donations help make it possible for us to provide food, medical care, and love to every animal who comes through our doors.”