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Tb her surprise, the box at the Davis Drive location was filled with items in a matter of weeks. “Animals can't take care of themselves. so we need to help,” she said. “I want people to know animals are just as important as She made it her mission to set up a box. with the permission of Newmarket Global Pet Foods owner Domenic Campitelli, so shop- pers could donate anything from litter to food to toys and blankets for the animals at the local shelter. “I've heard of people not having stuff and the animals at the shelter don't have anything either." “I was thinking how 1 love animals so much and how they need a lot, too," the Stouffville- area resident said. The 12 recipients of the awards, co-ordi- nated by the Ontario Community Newspa- pers Association, will be announced Ian. 22. The awards, sponsored by TD Canada Trust and Direct Energy, will be presented in Toron- to in March. Alexis’ work with animals earned her a nomination for the Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year awards. Inspired by the boxes put out in grocery stores over the holidays, allowing shoppers to donate non-perishable food items to the local food pantry, the 10-year-old thought it would be just as appropriate to organize a similar dn've for animals spending the holidays at the Ontario SPCA in Whitchurch-Stouffville. BY TERESA LATCH FORD tIatchfard®yrmg. com Animals are just as important as people to Alexis Xenophontos. 10-yearâ€"old has drive for OSPCA animals : Ontario Junior Citizen of Year award nominee The animal box program has been such a success at the Davis Drive location. Global Pet Foods will relocate the box to the Leslie Street site. Alexis has purchased blankets. food and toys to donate to the Ontario SPCA and has spent many afternoons with her grandmoth- er sewing handmade blankets for the animals as well. "I’ve collected a lot of stuffed animals for them to play with, too,” she said. “I figure I love stuffed animals, so the animals will love to play with them, too." “She saves all her pocket money and allow- ance and does extras around the house to buy things for the animals at the shelter." Mrs. Xenophontos said. Her passion to help furry and cuddly crea- tures started when she and her mother, Vic- toria. paid a visit to the adoption centre in search of a cat. Her experience opened her eyes to the need of so many animals, her mother said. The animal lover has two pets of her own -â€" a cat named Sheba, that was adopted from the Ontario SPCA, and a bunny named Hop- per, that the family began feeding in their back yard. humans.’ ‘Anirfials can’t take care of themselves, so we need to help. I want people to know animals are just as important as humans.’ Goldfish company made splash in New York the$ay BRIDAL SH (17W muggy"