The local “Friends of Animals” has begun its annual holiday appeal to raise money to help care for neglected and abused animals in the community–and organizers are hoping people will open their wallets to help.
Mary Pasechko, secretary/treasurer for “Friends of Animals,” is hoping the money raised this year will help bring the organization one step closer to building an animal shelter here, as well as pay for the numerous services it offers.
“We have a lot of costs,” Pasechko said. “The money we collect we put toward various services, such as vet fees, sponsors, ‘Pet Connection,’ re-imbursements, and the shelter that we are hoping to eventually have built.
“We have already sent out our appeal with the utility bills that have been sent to residents’ homes this month,” she noted.
With no official deadline for donations, Pasechko is hoping “Friends of Animals” will surpass last year’s total of $2,000 and reach the goal of $3000 it’s set for this year.
“So far, we have raised about $1,000,” noted Pasechko. “We still have a ways to go but we are very optimistic that we will reach that goal.
“So far, we have been very pleased with the outpouring of support we have gotten from new people in the community,” she added. “For the first time, we have actually received support from groups of employees, which has also been just great.”
With December and January being the worst months for abandoning animals in the district, Pasechko is optimistic this year’s appeal will raise the funds needed to care for them.
“We have been trying to get more advertisement around so that the public is more aware of our appeal,” she remarked. “We are hoping that this Christmas, people will give a little to an organization that needs their help.”
People can send their donation to “Friends of the Animals,” Box 545,
Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3M8.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
