Mrs. Brookes’ Curious Kids After School and Summer Program will be helping out Centerville Area Animal Rescue Effort this year with their summer lemonade stand.

Beginning today, the kids will be selling lemonade near St. Mary's Catholic Church from around 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Friday until school resumes. All proceeds will be donated to CAARE.

Last year the program raised around $400, which was donated to Sharon Bluffs State Park. This year they hope to help CAARE and may even give free lemonade to people who donate dog food or other items at the stand.

Members of CAARE stopped by the Community Pre-School building Thursday to talk to the kids about what their organization does and the importance of taking good care of your pets.

President of CAARE, Ann Senior, said that the group still needs around $10,000 to build the no-kill shelter that they envision. They have the land, and have had offers of donations for labor, but are still in the process of raising money to get materials. Senior said they are hoping to receive grant money once their tax-exempt status becomes official.

Right now animals are being sheltered at her home and with three foster families they have lined up in the community, as well as with help from Country Village Animal Clinic. Senior said besides money, foster families are the biggest need they have. She said, on average, an animal will stay with a foster family for about one week while CAARE tries to find an adoptive family. The group works with the Animal Rescue League in Des Moines and also networks with other animal rescue groups to help find their animals new homes.

Senior said that the word has gotten out about CAARE and that she can get anywhere from three to 12 calls a day some days about animals in need.

She has traveled to many areas around the county and even to Seymour to pick up animals. Much of their funding goes towards veterinarian bills for spaying and neutering as well as medications and care the animals might need when they are found.

The group also currently has a Food for Fido program which can provide a month’s worth of pet food to a family in need. Senior said they also hope to begin a program with the elder care facilities in the area to bring animals in to visit residents.

As for right now they are grateful for the donation Mrs. Brookes’ kids will be giving them and will be holding a few fund raisers of their own in the near future, including a garage sale and a dog grooming day where people can bring their dogs in to be bathed and groomed for $15. They are also looking into holding a brunch and also a dog swim at the pool in the future as well as sponsoring a distemper/parvo vaccination clinic.

CAARE has a Web site that is currently still under construction. It is http://www.icaare.org. You can also reach CAARE at (641) 856-7210.