Need some volunteer help

Hello everyone,

As many of you know, I am a volunteer for A Forever Home, an animal rescue organization here in Northern Virginia. Most of their adoption events are in Chantilly, however, we have had some here in Ashburn and are planning on more.

AFH just helped with two different rescue efforts, and we need help. We are a non profit group, we receive no funding, and none of us get paid. Everything we do is with the help of donations.

We just brought in 5 dogs from a severe cruelty case (since it is an open case I can not go into any detail). The dogs all had serious illnesses such as heartworm, ehrlichiosis, malnourishment, and much more. They are currently being treated and will take several months to be healthy enough for adoption. These treatments are very costly.

We also were called to an emergency situation at one of the shelters we rescue dogs from in West Virginia mid week. This shelter has been plagued with problems. Since they are located in a very rural part of West Virginia, they are difficult for rescues to reach, and they get very little local adoptions. The last couple of years have been bad for them due to the recession. Most of the residents in the area work in coal mines that have shut down, so their unemployment rate has skyrocketed. Because of this people are dumping their family pets at the local kill shelter with little to no chance to get out.

This shelter euthanizes on a regular basis for space. Now last week their septic system failed, and they must shut down during the repairs. The animals in the shelter had to be moved or they will be euthanized. We sent our van up to the shelter yesterday and rescued 16 dogs (and 13 puppies).

These dogs come in with little to no vetting and most have never seen a vet. We now will have them vetted and any health needs will be taken care of. Again this is a huge and costly undertaking.

Both of these efforts will cost way beyond the adoption fee we get for any individual pet, so we are trying to come up with fundraising effort. I would like to have a bake sale in the Broadlands, which can be a fun way to raise some money for this worthy cause. If any of you are willing to help by baking goods and standing out there to sell the goods, please let me know.

I am also planning an adoption event, hopefully at the Nature Center - I still need to talk to them. This will be an opportunity for you to directly save a life by adopting one of our dogs, or to just stop by and buy a tee or make a direct donation.

This is a cause near and dear to my heart. There is so much animal cruelty everywhere ... just last week my daughter's friend found a boxer puppy in a dumpster here in Ashburn. I know we can't save them all, but we can all make an effort to save as many as possible.

Thank you,

Marianne

 

I bake awesome brownies and would love to bake as many as you can use for this cause. I will also make a donation. Animals are the most amazing creatures and my heart breaks every time I hear about abuse and mistreatment, as they all they really want to do is to please us. Let me know when and where!

 

I would be happy to contribute some baked goods!

 

Thank you both. I would like to hold the bake sale on July 10. PM me if that would work for you and include your email, that way we can do the planning via email.

Thank you again so much.

Marianne

 

I am a horrible baker but I will spread the word and donate. Thanks for putting ypur heart and time out there for these helpless animals... people can be so cruel and malicious.

 

Thank you redon, getting the word out will be of great help and donations are so very welcome.

I had quite a few people mention in PMs that they would like to help but will be gone that Saturday. I forgot to calculate the fact that many people won't get back from there fourth of July vacation for a week or so, and that includes my daughters, who both want to help.

So I will be moving this event to July 17th. Ideas for good locations are also welcome, even if you can't make it. One idea was to hit the pool, not sure we will be allowed to do that, but I will check into it.

Please also check out our website, aforeverhome.org.

Marianne

 

There will be a swim meet on Sat, July 17th at the Southern Walk Pool. You might want to check with them to see if you can do a bake sale there or close by (Nature Center). Lots of that dreaded traffic that neighbors always complain about.

 

We can talk about using the community center for a fundraiser or adoption event, but we do not rent out the Nature Center. A bake sale at the pool should be do-able, but perhaps not during a swim meet. They often have their own fundraisers going on during those.

 

Maybe not during the swim meet, but doesn't the pool "open" at 11:30 when the swim meet is still wrapping up? Maybe Marianne can get set up by 11:30 and get the exiting traffic from the meet? Just a thought, and you would probably want to check with the swim team.

 

I'd be happy to contribute baked goods.

 

You might also want to think about a bake sale at Flicks in the Sticks or Broadlands Live!

 

Thank you Maureen, either myself or Thomas will get in touch with you about an event like that.

Do you have the contact info for the swim team so I can check with them about having the fundraiser there during or just after the meet? People are hungy after swimming.

Marianne

 

Another great idea. Will check into it.

 

Amye, would you be so kind and send me a PM with your email address? Thank you for volunteering.

Marianne

 

Their contact information is on their website http://www.broadlandsswimteam.org/

 

can't do it at Broadlands Live since we have sponsors and vendors who pay to be there but I canmake an announcement to raise awareness.

 

I would like to thank everyone that responded here and via PM. I have sent an email out to everyone that voiced interest in helping out, so we can start the coordination. If you wanted to be involved in the "Goodies for Puppies" bake sale and did not receive an email, please send me a PM.

Thank's again so much for all the support.

Marianne

 

The bake sale is still on for Saturday. I am still trying to nail down that I can hold it at the pool, apparently there is no swim meet so I should be fine.

As an aside, we have great neighbors here in the Broadlands. Four girls in my neighborhood had a fundraiser today, a lemonade stand for the puppies. It never amazes me, I was so touched.

Marianne

 

Maureen,

since the swim team said they don't have a meet this weekend, do you see any problems with me setting up at the pool from 11 - 3 on Saturday?

Marianne

 

marianne
It is the other swim team that does not have a meet (the one at Community Center). The team that practices and competes at Southern walk (ODSL) does have a meet so the pool will not open until 11:30. I sent you a PM give me a call when you get a chance.

Staci