March 29, 2024

Fundraising — at only 8 years of age

Dungan makes donation to animal rescue league

The Jasper County Animal Rescue League and Humane Society have long benefited from the generosity of area residents.

However, not all generous residents are only 8 years old.

Ella Dungan, lives in Altoona with her mother and stepfather, but has strong ties to Newton. Dungan and her father’s girlfriend, Katie Casper, showed up at the Rescue League last week with more than $100 in cash and many other supplies for the shelter. Dungan made and sold bracelets, and all of the money she made went toward either the donation or the supplies.

“It feels really good to help the animals,” Dungan said. “Some of the bracelets I made took about 15 minutes. Most of them took five or 10 minutes.”

The Rescue League posted a photo of Dungan with supplies she donated, and the photo soon received hundreds of “likes.” Casper pointed out the bracelets were all sold in the Jasper County area, and there was no announced price — people could donate as much or as little as they desired.

“We have a great community,” Casper said. “Ella sold about 40 bracelets. Even one of the pharmacists from Walgreens contributed.”

Ella’s mother, Kayla Dungan-Vanderploeg of Altoona, said her daughter is especially shy, and a fundraiser that involved meeting and talking with new people was a positive experience.

“This really helped her break out of her shell,” Dungan-Vanderploeg said. “Once she understood how it could work, the whole fundraiser was a real confidence builder for her.”

While Dungan lives in Altoona, she stays with her father, Chase Plumb, and Casper on weekends in the Newton area. That’s where she began working on the fundraiser.

While most of the bracelets were completed by around Thanksgiving, Dungan didn’t start trying to sell the bracelets until about one month ago. “I was really nervous — especially at first,” Dungan said. Casper said she did initiate some conversations in trying to get donations, but Ella did a great deal of the talking.

After all, the expert on bracelets would be the bracelet maker herself, who has been crafting the same type of bracelets for about three years. “Katie helped me a lot,” Dungan said. “But I helped everyone pick out the bracelet they wanted.”

Dungan-Vanderploeg said her daughter isn’t new to being on the “supply” side of charity endeavors. Helping shop for toys to donate to charity is one of the ways she’s encouraged Dungan to think of others.

Dungan said she’s grateful to Casper and all those who helped her make a donation to the shelter. She also wants Jasper County residents to think of the Rescue League when giving old goods away.

“Thank you to everyone who helped,” Dungan said. “Please donate things to the shelter, like old blankets and towels.”

Contact Jason W. Brooks at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com