Giving Tuesday!

Hi readers,

Today is Giving Tuesday! On this day, people are encouraged to give to charity and volunteer. To help inspire you and your family, meet 6-year-old chickaDEE reader Isabel. She started “Isabel’s Pet Portrait Fundraiser” as a way to raise money for the Small Animal Rescue Society of BC. Isabel raised over $500 by drawing pet portraits. Way to go, Isabel! Read on for more on Isabel’s story.

Isabel with her pet bunnies, Christopher and Myrtle.

chickaDEE: How did you get the idea to start drawing pet portraits for charity?
Isabel: My friend Jen, who is a volunteer at the Small Animal Rescue Society of BC, really liked my drawings of bunnies I make and asked me if I could do something with my drawings to help the bunnies and other animals who need homes. I like to draw animals and I thought people would like portraits of their pets.

chickaDEE: Why is the Small Animal Rescue Society of BC important to you?
Isabel: Because they save animals’ lives. I adopted my pet bunnies, Christopher and Myrtle, from there and I love them. A lot of the bunnies and guinea pigs, hamsters, chinchillas, gerbils, rats and all the other small pets get dumped outside when their owners don’t want them anymore. They get hurt and cold outside. The Small Animal Rescue saves them and gives them food and water and treats and love. Then they find them homes. There are lots of animals there who need a home and I would like people to adopt them.

chickaDEE: How did people hear about your fundraising idea?
Isabel: My mom posted it on Facebook and my friends at the Small Animal Rescue told everyone they knew about it.

chickaDEE: How many pet portraits did you draw?
Isabel: I drew 53 pet portraits!

chickaDEE: Do you have any tips on drawing animals?
Isabel: Spend lots of time with animals. Also, use pencil first so you can erase things you are not happy with and then when you are done, use marker over the lines.

chickaDEE: Do you have any plans to do this again?
Isabel: Yes! I am going to do this again in the new year. If you join my page on Facebook* you will hear about the next time I do it.  Also the Small Animal Rescue can let you know about it, too.

Thank you to Isabel for sharing her story with us. Now, check out some of Isabel’s artwork!

Have a great Giving Tuesday, everyone!

Mandy, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

*Please ask your parent’s permission before signing it to Facebook.