Just making sure they share.

This goat's name is Marissa. She's been sick and Janelle and I give her special care.

Getting the bales of hay.

Fifth Grader Enjoys Volunteer Work with Goats

April 7, 2003. Meriden, Connecticut

Patrick, a fifth grader, shares his "Volunteer Report" he wrote for his school newsletter:

VOLUNTEER REPORT
Patrick H. -- Grade 5

My name is Patrick. I am eleven years old and I am in fifth grade. Two days a week after school I volunteer at the Franciscan Life Center on Allen Avenue. My job is to help Sister Anna Rose take care of the goats and cats that live at the Center. There are fifteen goats and they need a lot of care and attention.

I have been going to the Franciscan Nun's Summer Camp for four years and I love it. It is a great place and they grow all their own food and do all their own chores. Once a week during camp we get the eggs from the chickens. We feed and groom the goats, feed the chickens and collect their eggs. We also pick berries and grass to feed them. We fish and eat under big willow trees. I love nature and animals and the outdoors and that's why I love camp. There are so many animals to care for and so many chores that need to be done and the Sisters do ALL the work by themselves. When camp is over I feel sad because I miss the chickens and goats and cats and dogs and all the other things we do at camp.

At camp I found out that the goats eat maple leaves and that the leaves are like candy to them. There are two pens for them, one in camp and one on Goodspeed Avenue. My dad and I would go to the pen a couple times a week. I would bring a bag of maple leaves for the goats to eat. My dad whistled and clapped his hands and they all came running. One day Sister Shaun saw us feeding the goats on the side of the road. My mom was with us and she told Sister Shaun how much I loved the goats and missed them. Sister Shaun said they could use some help caring for the goats and if I was interested in helping out and I said "YES!"

So two days a week after school my mom drops me off and I help Sister Anna Rose and Janelle (she'll be a sister soon). We feed goats and cats. I carry the hay bails and grain, brush them, give them water and sweep the barn. If a goat gets sick, I get to give them medicine. Sometimes their horns break and we have to make sure they don't get an infection so I spray medicine on the horn. Sometimes I help do other chores if they need me to. I like to help the Sisters because they have so much work to do.

Every year they have a fair at Christmas time and they put on a Living Creche which is the nativity scene and this year was the first year they put three goats in the play. Sister Anna Rose and I trained the goats for weeks before the play to teach them to walk on a leash. We weren't sure they would be able to do it but FINALLY they did. We did three shows and I stayed all day to keep them in line. I had to dress like a shepherd and was responsible for the goats all day because they know me. They did what they were supposed to and they were a big hit.

I love to volunteer because I'm learning responsibility and it feels good when I help people. I love animals and it's pretty cool to be able to help out and be with animals at the same time. The Sisters are very busy because not only do they grow their own food and do their own chores they also do a lot of community work and also help the sick, the elderly and the needy. The Franciscan Nuns are so nice and they taught me a lot about animals and nature and I'm glad I can help them out for all they have taught me.

Giving the goats hay.

Feeding them the grain.