Photo by Teresa Duckworth/Special to the Trend
Alexandra Penzo, 8, loves dogs, like her boxer, Romeo. She decided to donate a portion of her profits from her trash collection service to local animal shelters.
Allie’s Trash Service raises funds for homeless animals
An 8-year-old Marlton girl is turning trash into treasure for the Camden County Animal Shelter (CCAS).
Alexandra Penzo started a trash collection business three years ago in her Lakeview neighborhood and, with a portion of her proceeds, recently began donating money to the shelter for the care of the animals housed there.
“Allie’s Trash Service” (She has since changed the spelling to “Aly.”) was born of her parents’, Donna Rose and John, desire to teach their daughter responsibility and the value of money.
For a fee of $3 to $5 per week, Aly takes out the trash daily for her clients. Then, on Thursday evenings, she takes the receptacles to the curb and returns them Friday mornings.
“Recyclables are for free,” said Aly.
The idea for the trash service as a means of earning money came out of a void left by a previous trash collector.
“There was a boy that did that, and they left,” said Donna Rose.
With the money Aly earns from her business, 25 percent is earmarked for donations to the shelter. The other 75 percent goes toward savings, investments and purchases with each category getting its own envelope.
So far, Aly has averaged roughly $50 a month in donations to the shelter in the three months since she began donating her earnings.
With the help of her father, she has also started a nonprofit Web site, www.tohelptheanimals.org, to raise more funds for the shelter.
“I love animals so much. Me and my mom talk to them, and they talk back,” said Aly.
“She’s the ‘Dog Whisperer,’” said John.
The Evesham Township Rice Elementary School student has total control of the Web site and comes up with many of the ideas to make the site better. She maneuvers stories and pictures from the CCAS site to help feature animals in need of loving homes.
“She’s unbelievable with the computer,” said Donna Rose.
“It’s [the Web site] hers — mom and dad just help,” said John, who works for Apple Computers.
Recently, the site added merchandise that can be custom ordered and purchased, with a portion of the proceeds going to the shelter. By signing up with a corporate partner, the Penzos are able to provide items for sale with no out-of-pocket expenses.
According to her father, the whole idea behind the business was for Aly to learn about responsibility and money.
“We also wanted her to give back. Society is so ‘me’-centered. She likes animals — so we came up with the idea for the Web site,” said John.
“I picked what I wanted to do — like [raising money for] cancer, but I picked doggies and animals,” said Aly.
The goal of the Web site is to help shelters around South Jersey. Currently, Aly and her parents visit the CCAS once a month to make their donation.
“When we go there, we essentially write a check. [It] goes for dog and cat food and shots,” said John.
“If a dog needs surgery, it pays for the surgery,” said Aly.
Because the family’s home is close to the shelter and its Web site was easy to find, the CCAS has benefited by Aly’s endeavors, but the Penzos would like to help other shelters too.
“I was impressed with Camden’s shelter, with how well the animals were being cared for. They have a low kill policy, and they’re a busy shelter,” said John.
Alexandra Penzo started a trash collection business three years ago in her Lakeview neighborhood and, with a portion of her proceeds, recently began donating money to the shelter for the care of the animals housed there.
“Allie’s Trash Service” (She has since changed the spelling to “Aly.”) was born of her parents’, Donna Rose and John, desire to teach their daughter responsibility and the value of money.
For a fee of $3 to $5 per week, Aly takes out the trash daily for her clients. Then, on Thursday evenings, she takes the receptacles to the curb and returns them Friday mornings.
“Recyclables are for free,” said Aly.
The idea for the trash service as a means of earning money came out of a void left by a previous trash collector.
“There was a boy that did that, and they left,” said Donna Rose.
With the money Aly earns from her business, 25 percent is earmarked for donations to the shelter. The other 75 percent goes toward savings, investments and purchases with each category getting its own envelope.
So far, Aly has averaged roughly $50 a month in donations to the shelter in the three months since she began donating her earnings.
With the help of her father, she has also started a nonprofit Web site, www.tohelptheanimals.org, to raise more funds for the shelter.
“I love animals so much. Me and my mom talk to them, and they talk back,” said Aly.
“She’s the ‘Dog Whisperer,’” said John.
The Evesham Township Rice Elementary School student has total control of the Web site and comes up with many of the ideas to make the site better. She maneuvers stories and pictures from the CCAS site to help feature animals in need of loving homes.
“She’s unbelievable with the computer,” said Donna Rose.
“It’s [the Web site] hers — mom and dad just help,” said John, who works for Apple Computers.
Recently, the site added merchandise that can be custom ordered and purchased, with a portion of the proceeds going to the shelter. By signing up with a corporate partner, the Penzos are able to provide items for sale with no out-of-pocket expenses.
According to her father, the whole idea behind the business was for Aly to learn about responsibility and money.
“We also wanted her to give back. Society is so ‘me’-centered. She likes animals — so we came up with the idea for the Web site,” said John.
“I picked what I wanted to do — like [raising money for] cancer, but I picked doggies and animals,” said Aly.
The goal of the Web site is to help shelters around South Jersey. Currently, Aly and her parents visit the CCAS once a month to make their donation.
“When we go there, we essentially write a check. [It] goes for dog and cat food and shots,” said John.
“If a dog needs surgery, it pays for the surgery,” said Aly.
Because the family’s home is close to the shelter and its Web site was easy to find, the CCAS has benefited by Aly’s endeavors, but the Penzos would like to help other shelters too.
“I was impressed with Camden’s shelter, with how well the animals were being cared for. They have a low kill policy, and they’re a busy shelter,” said John.
