Submitted photo Jaxon, 8, and Kaleb McCarson, 10, have decided to sell reusable water bottles to help raise money to donate supplies to the Souris Valley Animal Shelter. The bottles come with a variety of designs and are available for a freewill donation.

A post was circulating local Minot Facebook pages saying that a couple of boys were selling water bottles for freewill donations to collect money to buy supplies to donate to the Souris Valley Animal Shelter.

Nicole McCarson had made posts for her sons, 10-year-old Kaleb and 8-year-old Jaxon who attend elementary school here in Minot, initially on Oct. 3.

“We wanted to raise money for the animal shelter, get supplies and help the animals,” Jaxson said.

When Nicole was approached by her children with the idea, she was delightfully surprised. They went out and bought clear plastic water bottles and stickers to decorate them.

“You need to help the world, you can’t just take all the time without giving back,” Nicole explained. She thought it was a good lesson for her children.

The boys thought of the animal shelter from ads they had seen online to help animals in need. Seeing the sad, lonely and sick puppies made them want to help the animals in their own city.

Nicole made the initial post last week and said that they’ve only been able to sell around nine water bottles so far. Some people have agreed to meet them but they have been stood up on a few occasions. Because of this, the family is looking for a place to set up and be able to sell the bottles for the animal shelter.

“We’re working on going to one of the stores and setting up shop there,” Nicole explained. The family will be at a local store in Minot on Saturday, though they did not want to be mentioned. Nicole will be updating her Facebook and posting on some of the local rummage and yard sale pages where they will be set up today.

“It feels good to help people and help the world,” Jaxon said.

To get in touch with Nicole, she doesn’t mind people reaching out to her Facebook page or sending her an email at nicole.mccarson @gmail.com. There are a few different designs on the water bottles and will be available until they sell out. Once more money is raised, the family will buy supplies and deliver them to the animal shelter.