William B. Travis Elementary School students and staff have banded together to help both animals and the environment. The school has been collecting aluminum cans as part of its PAWS to Recycle program for the past two weeks.

Once collected, the cans are given to PAWS representative Jack Gray, who then donates them to the Pet Place. The cans are then taken to a local scrap yard where they are recorded, weighed and exchanged for cash.

The money that is collected goes toward the care of area animals. Gray said the amount of money the organization receives per load varies depending on the size.

"Sometimes it's as low as $45. Sometimes it's as high as $70," said Gray.

On Friday, Gray scooped up all the cans that were collected so far by Travis students and teachers.

He plans to collect more cans from Sam Houston Middle School and Price T. Young Middle School in the coming weeks and has called a number of Marshall Independent School District campuses to encourage others to participate.

Travis secretary Tami Thompson said the school has staged a friendly competition between students and classes to bolster involvement. Individual and class winners of the contest will be treated to a popcorn party, she said. The school conducts the program at least twice a year.

Gray said the PAWS to Recycle organization was first established in Marshall about seven years ago and has collected over $5,000 annually from donated cans.

"It's just a way to raise funds for the animals," said Gray.