Charlee Kollek, 9, and Kylie Baker, 10, both fourth-grade students at Connoquenessing Valley Elementary School, collected of pet food and supplies for the Butler County Humane Society. The duo raised about $300 and collected more than two dozen containers filled with supplies Wednesday and Thursday for the school's March “CVE Cares” project.

ZELIENOPLE — For fourth-grader Charlee Kollek, this month’s “CVE Cares” project was a personal endeavor.

Charlee, 9, along with classmate and friend Kylie Baker, 10, headed a collection this week to give Connoquenessing Valley Elementary School students rainbow loom bracelets in exchange for donations for the Butler County Humane Society.

The duo in two days this week received about $300 and more than two dozen containers full of animal supplies, including cat and dog food, treats, toys, blankets and paper towels.

“It’s everything the humane society could possibly need,” Charlee said.

Charlee said she got the idea for giving to the humane society from a late relative of hers, officer Kristine Bartman of the Evans City-Seven Fields Regional Police Department.

“Her favorite thing in the world was the humane society,” Charlee said. “We went to every one of her benefits, so I decided to give them (humane society) a gift.”

Bartman, Charlee’s step-aunt, was killed while driving her motorcycle in Pittsburgh in July. She was described as an “avid” animal lover and memorial contributions after her death were encouraged to go toward the humane society.

Charlee and Kylie said they were surprised at the amount of donations that poured in for this week’s collection. Both have pets at their homes, including dogs, cats and other various animals.

“We’re grateful at all of the donations we’ve gotten,” Kylie said. “We thought we would have less than half of this.”

“We thought there would only be one box filled a day, but after buses came in, we were overflowing,” Charlee said. “It kind of made us want to cry.”

Charlee’s mother, Michelle Kollek, said Charlee used all of her money for the loom bracelets. She also called her daughter’s effort “heartwarming.”

She wanted to do something that her aunt would be proud of as well,” Kollek said. “It’s overwhelming having such tragedy at a young age, but when you go to a funeral procession that’s five miles long and see how proud a community is, it’s very heartwarming.”

The family volunteers at the humane society once a week.