(COVINGTON, La) – Last Friday, the St. Paul’s School Student Council concluded a week-long drive for pet supplies following the recent historic flooding throughout south Louisiana. The idea of the drive was the brain-child of freshman Paul Stolin, a contributing member of the Student Board.

“After hearing about the St. Tammany Humane Society taking in the animals from Tangipahoa (Parish) due to the flooding, I wanted to find a way to help,” Stolin said. “I heard there was a lack of food at the St. Tammany Humane Society, and through the Student Council we were able to organize the drive.”

Stolin shared his proposal via text message to the Student Council on Sunday, Aug. 14, and, thanks to the capabilities of the “group message,” the entire Student Council was prepared to launch the drive the next day.

Junior Vice President Carson Caulfield immediately clung to the initiative, pledging to sacrifice his Monday morning setting up various drop off locations at Counseling, the school attendance office, and Founder’s Circle.

“Well, the first thing I did was make flyers and put them up around campus, which I really think made people aware,” Caulfield said. “I also set up those pickup locations and maintained them.”

Throughout the week, students, parents, and teachers donated, exceeding the Student Council’s expected collections. The bulk of these donations came later in the week, as a handful of students enjoying their lunches at Founder’s Circle initially mistook the collecting station for a trashcan. This miscommunication was promptly cleared up by the Student Council executives, and the pile of pet supplies was delivered to the St. Tammany Humane Society after the last donation was collected Friday morning.

“This year, we started off with accomplishing goals early,” Student Body President Will Murphy said. “We have already completed (the new Grab-and-Go pavillion), made game towels, started a drive for the animals of Tangipahoa Parish, changed the prom precedent, and started planning for engaging pep rallies.”

The efficiency and effectiveness of this drive, and the other endeavors this council has already undertaken shows off three very important virtues every successful council needs to succeed: communication, organization, and resolve.

Student Council members are now collecting money for a pizza day that will take place today.