Page 10 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • November 6, 2013 Saddle River Valley SRVJWC seeks donations for The Seeing Eye The Saddle River Valley Junior Wom- an’s Club is now working to raise funds and awareness for The Seeing Eye, the oldest guide dog school in the world. SRVJWC recently teamed up with the Upper Saddle River School District to introduce a dog photo contest for the students as an enjoyable and creative way to learn about The Seeing Eye. In addi- tion, the club encourages the community to get involved in the mission of raising $5,000 for The Seeing Eye. When the club reaches its fundraising goal, The Seeing Eye will give the group the honor of naming a Seeing Eye puppy. Local residents are invited to help by sending a donation to SRVJWC, P.O. Box 101, Saddle River, NJ. To make a donation, checks may be made payable to SRVJWC with “The Seeing Eye” noted on the memo line. Donations will help raise and train a dog who will be matched with a visually impaired person. Club members note that each and every gift will make a difference. Another way to help The Seeing Eye is to raise a puppy. When Seeing Eye pup- pies reach the age of seven or eight weeks, they are delivered to the homes of volun- teer “foster families” who nurture and care for their charges until the dogs are about 16 to 18 months old. Families give the dogs abundant affection, teach them basic obedience, and expose them to a variety of social situations they will later encounter as working dogs. When it’s time for the puppy to begin formal training, the dog returns to The Seeing Eye to learn to assist a blind person to lead a more inde- pendent, fulfilling life. The SRVJWC encourages the com- munity to be a part of the magic of The Seeing Eye and volunteer to raise a puppy with a special destiny. Volunteers range from families with young children to retirees. Every year, as many as 288 students at a time visit the Morristown campus of The Seeing Eye to discover the exhilarat- ing experience of traveling with a Seeing Eye dog. Anyone interested in raising a puppy may contact Jill Jaycox at (908) 526- 4604. For information about the club’s fundraiser, call Denise Mercier at (201) 825-1947. Pictured at the contest kickoff for Cavallini School are:(L to R) Dawn Sue, SRVJWC; Mr. Mc Cusker, Cavallini School principal; Dr. Monica Browne, superintendent of Upper Saddle River schools; Kathy and her Seeing Eye Dog, Becca; Sharon Reissman, SRVJWC; and Denise Mercier, SRVJWC president.