• 
• CLASS
• JOBS
• AUTO
• HOMES

Aluminum proceeds help Vest-A-Dog

JANESVILLE — Tanya Mordecai discovered the Wisconsin Vest-A-Dog program while searching for a way to foster her daughter's love for animals.

The goal of the program, started in 2005 by Donna Morgan of Janesville, is to provide bullet resistant vests for every police dog in Wisconsin.

Mordecai developed Project Aluminum, an aluminum-recycling program that donates all proceeds to Wisconsin Vest-A-Dog.

She said it's something she can do with her 4-year-old daughter, Sophie.

"I thought if I could collect cans that would be something she'd be able to participate in, and we'd be able to give back to the organization," Mordecai said.

Project Aluminum began almost a year ago, and donations have been used to buy a vest for Odin, a UW-Madison police dog.

"It was a great, proud moment and a big sense of accomplishment. I've very happy with what I've been able to achieve and I'd like to be able to grow the program," Mordecai said.

Morgan is pleased, too.

"It's a fantastic program that's going to keep on giving and could turn into something big for us depending on how many citizens participate in it," she said.

Each vest to protect a police dog costs $840. Project Aluminum has 75 percent of the money raised to buy a second vest, Mordecai said.

Since Christmas 2005, Wisconsin Vest-a-Dog has provided vests for 161 dogs, but about 60 Wisconsin police dogs still need vests, Morgan said.

Mordecai dreams of Project Aluminum becoming its own nonprofit, and she hopes to find more businesses willing to donate aluminum to the cause.

Several local businesses let her put aluminum collection bins near their trash receptacles. She and Sophie make weekly pickups and take the aluminum to Alter Metal.

"It's been hard for me to make commitments to other organizations on a regular basis, but this is something I could do and fit in my schedule of living in Janesville and working in Madison," Mordecai said.

"I was raised in a family that gives back to the community, so it's really important I pass that along to my daughter," she said.

HOW TO DONATE

All proceeds from Project Aluminum will be given to Wisconsin Vest-A-Dog to buy bulletproof and knife-resistant vests for police dogs. To make a donation:

-- Take cans to Alter Metal Recycling, 1753 Beloit Ave., Janesville.

-- Drive up to the automatic garage door labeled "Drop Off," then pull in and wait for attendant.

-- Place your donation on the scale

-- When asked for your name and address, tell the attendant you want to have your cans donated to the Project Aluminum account

-- Once cans are weighed, you will be given a ticket. Exit the garage, turn left and drive around the corner to the ticket window. Leave your ticket with the attendant.