Three Franklin Elementary teachers recently celebrated their birthdays with a bowling party for their students.

But instead of presents, they asked the first-graders to donate something for local animal shelters.Wendy Williams, Megan Scimeca and Paula Bonser all have their birthdays in late April and early May.On a recent Friday, 37 of their students turned out at Fritz’s Lanes to bowl and support the Carbon County Friends of Animals, as well as the Carbon County Animal Shelter. CCFOA shelters cats while CCAS helps dogs.“They didn’t want any presents, but the kids could bring stuff for the animals,” Tom Connors, the director of CCAS, said.It’s the third year of the annual event, which raises about $500 in donations for the shelters. Williams said that each of the three teachers have dogs. However, they gave cat-loving students a chance to support CCAS as well.“They come in with 30 pound bags of food, toys, leashes and snacks,” Williams said.The animal shelters rely heavily on volunteers and donations in order to continue protecting cats and dogs.“We couldn’t do it without the help of the community, no doubt,” Connors said.Carbon County Commissioner Thomas J. Gerhard, who also came to support the event, said that donations to the CCFOA helped close a budget gap this year. In 2017 alone, they have received more than $9,000 in donations.“We see donations from people of all ages, which is good. The way that Tom promotes the shelter, he has a great personality. It makes it easier,” Gerhard said.