Food Pantry Event Open to Public

On March 22, 2010, from 10:00am-12 noon, members of the "Neighbor to Neighbor Resident Committee," in The Villages will host the "Food Pantry Expo." The Expo will be held at the Paradise Recreation Center, 1403 Paradise Drive, The Villages. The Rotary Club of the Lady Lake Area is supporting and sponsoring the expo by providing refreshments.

According to Carolyn Willette, Chairperson of the Committee, "The purpose of the Expo is to serve as a forum and display to inform our community about why food pantries are needed; who works in food pantries; who can volunteer; how food pantries help those needing help; who qualifies for food pantries; where food pantries are located; how people may contribute; and, how each donation feeds someone who is hungry." Each agency has been encouraged to bring a collection bin for food donations so if you're coming, please consider donating some much needed pet food too!

At present, the participants include:
-Our Humane Society/SPCA of Sumter County
-Congregational Church of The Villages-Baby and Toddler Food Pantry
-Department of Children and Families Food Stamp Grant Program
-First Baptist Food Pantry of Bushnell
-Fruitland Park Baptist Day Spring Ministries Food Pantry
-Helping Hands Food Pantry
-Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church Food Pantry
-Interim Health Care
-Love in the Name of Christ, Inc (LOVE INC)
-Mid FL Community Services St Theresa's Social Services
-St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry
-The Christian Food Pantry of Lake
-The Salvation Army, Wildwood Food Pantry

Buffalo Ridge Animal Hospital Helps "Kibbles" Program

It wasn't easy for the staff and clientele to keep the month long secret of their surprise donation to us. They had planned to generate 1000 lbs. of donated pet food to supply our "Kibbles on Wheels" pet food program that helps feed the pets of low income Sumter County residents.

Well it was an even more amazing surprise to be handed a check for $946 in addition to nearly 1100 lbs. of food! These funds will also be applied to purchase needed food should donations run out supplying the Kibbles program. "Kibbles on Wheels" requires an average of 1600 lbs. of pet food monthly an the need has risen in the last year due to the economy's downturn. We are so grateful that Buffalo Ridge intends on making this an annual event!

Thanks so much to you and your great clients for donating so generously! You're all preventing animals from going hungry and low income pet owners from having to surrender their pets due to lack of food. We all know how much our pets mean to us!

Photo: Dr. Kelly Krause and Office Mgr. Amy handing Fundraising Chairperson Claudia Labbe their check for $946 and all the food behind them!

Annual Membership Business Meeting & Board Election

Annual Membership Business Meeting & Election of Board Members

Location: Humane Society/SPCA of Sumter County office at CR 529A, Lake Panasoffkee, FL

Time: March 18th, 2010 Thursday at 6:30 pm

All current members eligible to vote that evening. No mail in or email votes accepted. Don't forget that if you want a voice in how your HS/SPCA is operating, you can select your Board members. Just make sure your dues are paid up to be eligible to vote!

Cinderella & Newborn Foal Champ in Need of Help

If you can guess what it costs to take care of a healthy horse, then you can imagine the expense of caring for a neglected horse...which was unimaginably pregnant! We were not knowing this when the mare was found abandoned in the middle of a road at night in the Green Swamp. Sheri Evans, our Cruelty Investigator, took the senior mare in to foster it and quarantined her until she could find the owner, in the hopes that the horse just accidentally got out of its pasture. Unfortunately, no one replied to the ads, thus she was presumed abandoned.

It was quite a surprise after one month when her family awoke to find a new addition in the pasture. This poor little unexpected bundle was not a thriving newborn foal learning to stand. Instead it was weak and unable to barely hold its head up. Due to its mother's poor condition during the foal's gestation, the baby had little nutrition to support a strong immune system and it became ill and septic. With emergency veterinary care responding, the new pair, now named Cinderella and Champ, was transferred immediately to an experienced foster home and are showing improvement.

The baby's infection erupted via its hock (leg joint) and will require additional antibiotics and surgery to make a full recovery. This is where the HS/SPCA needs your help please. It is estimated that the expenses could reach $2800. Would you be able to donate what you can to help this poor mother and newborn get a happy "baby shower" with your contribution? Any donations exceeding their expenses will be applied to other animals in need in our custody. Please mark your donations for "Cinderella & Champ."

Villagers are Horse N Around but very Serious too!

Although the club is named Horse N Around, they are quite serious about their love of horses. They didn't want to see another noble equine spend a day suffering which is why their 300+ members unanimously agreed to donate $1000 towards the care of our rescued horses.
Sheri Evans and Claudia Labbe spoke to their membership about how the funds would be applied and some of the most recent cases Sheri has encountered such as Cinderella & her newborn foal Champ found abandoned in the middle of the road in the Green Swamp almost a month ago (see their story). Funds will be applied towards veterinary care, hoof care, feed, hay and also equine evaluations beig donated at a reduced rate by horse trainer Bobbie Miller. Her hands on time with them will increase their adoptability when they learn the basics.
Members have kindly invited us to their club meetings three times now to follow the work we do, improving the lives of animals in need. Many also made additional donations, applied for HS/SPCA membership and volunteering offers.
We wish to thank all the HNA members for their love of horses and their help to end the needless suffering of such magnificent animals. (Photo of check presentation with Sheri Evans, Leslie Kalwara:Co-Pres., Chris Criswell-Treasurer, Claudia Labbe and Betty Criswell-Secretary, not shown in photo is Andre Fortier: Co-Pres.).

Meet March's Volunteer(s) of the Month!

March's Volunteer(s) of the Month are husband & wife team Wendel & Nancy. They are a high energy couple who have contributed so much in their community improving many areas.

With Wendel being a certified arborist and Nancy a biologist, along with both being actively involved in Florida's native plants, they care about the environment and live it throughout their lifestyle. Resource conservation is their main interest, so volunteering to organize our southern end of Sumter's "Get Off Your Can" aluminum recycling program only made sense. They were key to creating our beautiful native landscaping at our office during our Earth Day event too.

They have always had pets and work towards improving animal welfare, nurturing life and all living things. In Lake Pan, their brood consists of 4 dogs, 3 cats, chickens and their (and our) treasured pony Hobo. If you never knew of Hobo, they adopted him from us a few years ago and he is ANCIENT! His estimated age is over 40 years old! So you know they give him the best TLC!

As our 1st nominated Volunteer Couple of the Month, they recommend that couples team up on mutual interests and make it their "pet" project. They tell other couples that volunteering is a great way to spend cherished time together. It strengthens their marriage. We can tell you that your help strengthens our organization too and we so appreciate your team effort in all that you do here and at home with all your rescued beloved animals.
(Photo shows Wendel & Nancy on the far right with loved ones)

Different Ways You Can Help Us Save Lives!

Creativity is imperative to staying resourceful. "We need to be creative and resourceful in these times when the economy is seriously affecting our donations. Lack of funds and food directly affects our ability to save lives" commented Fundraising Chairperson Claudia Labbe. So the HS/SPCA is offering some tips on how the community can show its support. "So many people are taking on second jobs, that they may have less personal time or finances to help unfortunately, and though we certainly need donations and volunteers, we understand their priorities. So we outlined a few ways supporters and their communities can still help."

End of Year Donations for tax purposes are a great way to help! Please consider all the work we do and know that this is a great way to help while receiving a tax break.

Party Gifts:
Why not have a pet theme for your holiday party? Instead of a useless gag gift or a pointless $5-10 stocking stuffer, give a gift that will help feed or shelter an animal in need. Create a Wish List of items needed such as pet food, gift cards or pet beds. If your guests don't have time to go shopping, then have a jar where they can put some cash or a check made out to us!
There are two approaches for birthday parties as well. Pet parties are growing more popular and the pet parents are asking that guests bring pet food or monetary donations for animals less fortunate than theirs. Local children have also been doing this for their own birthday parties, asking their invited friends to bring pet supplies all while learning to think beyond their wants and growing from the gift of giving.

Showers:
It is becoming increasingly popular for people who are entering a second marriage to not need more household items, so ask your guests to bring pet food or a donation to help. The happy couple doesn't need more toasters, sheets and dishes so consider opting to make a difference in the community instead. Many will also ask that guests make a monetary donation in honor of their special union.

Community Service:
Youth groups such as the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America are always searching for ways to earn community service hours or merit badges. Help them organize a pet food drive, bake sale, car/pet wash, lemonade stand or spare change drive. HS/SPCA volunteers can speak to them about all the work done in the animal rescue field and how they helped make a difference. Fire and police stations and local grocers and businesses can setup donation points for a pet food drive at their sites.

Memorial Donations and Estate Planning:
Do you want to be remembered as someone compassionate and will continue helping animals in need even after your passing? You can make final memorial preparations by including a bequest in your will, gifts of property or real estate, beneficiary of life insurance policies, IRAs and other retirement plans requesting that donations be made to the Humane Society/SPCA of Sumter County in your name. This will honor the efforts you believe in and continue saving lives.
We also has memorial bricks for an everlasting tribute at their facility. Don't forget to have the Humane Society/SPCA of Sumter County in your will so that you will be leaving a legacy of compassion.