I think we’re ready. We’ve been doing this for 6 years so we should know what we’re doing, but I always get nervous anyway. Did we remember to order Porta-Potties? Check. Are we all set for the petting zoo? Check. Is everything sparkling clean at the sanctuary? Check and double-check! I’m obsessing, of course, about our upcoming signature fundraiser, Paws For A Cause. We’re on the final countdown now. The event is in 4 days and our event chair person, Pam Walker, is finalizing the last details. Every volunteer will have a job to do when the gates open at noon this Saturday, November 5th. As the day approaches, we’re holding our collective breaths, crossing our fingers, and hoping that we are able to raise enough money to see us through another year at HSAPL.
We’re very proud of this event. It has evolved over the years to encompass many of the things that we ,as an organization, feel are important. For example, our love for all animals is evident in the entertainment we've chosen: A petting zoo, a dog obedience demonstration, and a horse demonstration. The local wildlife organization even brings an assortment of their rehabilitated birds for a sort of show-and-tell exhibit. We also manage to sneak in some educational information about feline issues during our tours of the sanctuary. And, naturally, we have volunteers on hand to help those who want to adopt a cat.
One of my favorite exhibits is the Christmas tree. The small tree is decorated with photos of all the cats that reside at our sanctuary. Guests are invited to make a donation in honor of one of these cats. In the past, I’ve watched children studying the tree with care, wanting to make sure they give their dollar in honor of just the right kitty.
Some of the events of the day are just plain fun. Children work on arts and crafts or play in the bounce house. Their parents peruse the silent auction which seems to get bigger and better every year. And the live music provides an upbeat background to the day’s activities. It seems that once people come, they’re hooked. We see many of the same faces year after year.
This year we are especially in need of a successful event. All non-profit organizations are finding that donations are down and HSAPL is feeling the pinch as well. Our biggest support for the event usually comes through sponsorships. We’ve been fortunate over the years to have a number of generous sponsors whose donations have helped cover operational costs throughout the year. And every dollar given to the Christmas tree, every auction bid, each donation, no matter how small, helps cover the cost of things such as supplies, food, or the cost to spay or neuter a cat.
Paws For A Cause gives us all the opportunity to share the joy that animals bring to us. And, I suppose that I should stop obsessing and trust that everything will go smoothly. It always does and our friends haven’t let us down yet. I hope to see you there!
No comments:
Post a Comment