Melfort fundraising group presents cheque to NESPCA, encourage others to do the same

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed many challenges in raising funds but they continue to do what they can.

“We have still managed to hold our Facebook auctions and we get quite a bit through that, we did two drive by barbecues and we had a garage sale,” Rumberger said.

The garage sale was hosted in the garden centre of George Home Hardware in Melfort where all COVID-19 restrictions could be followed.

Over the years, the group has been able to help with purchasing dog beds, new dog doors, and ladders for the shelter to name a few.

A Sunset Gourmet fundraiser was also recently held online and brought in $350 for the SPCA in a week’s time.

“Things like that are very doable by individuals and every cent counts,” Rumberger said. “They get cats and dogs surrendered from all over and there is a great need for the finances for it.”

The money that was donated on Tuesday is going toward fencing for a safe outdoor play area for the dogs and cats at the shelter. They have had a play area set-up for the dogs but this will be permanent fencing.

The group also wants to raise funds for an outdoor cat condo next year.

“The online fundraisers are good because they reach out further into the northeast and encompass everyone in the service area,” Rumberger said.

The NESPCA board is also hosting a super 50/50 and tickets can be found on their Facebook page or on their website.

The Nipawin fundraising group is selling Christmas tree ornaments in place of their annual Raise the Woof event which was cancelled due to public health measures being in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

The Melfort group is also open to other fundraising ideas and are willing to help out with those.

“In 2020, over $20,000 in fundraising in Melfort so that is pretty good in COVID times,” Rumberger said.

Rumberger is doing her own personal fundraiser for her 65th birthday where she is challenging 65 friends to make a donation to the SPCA and their names get entered into a draw for a fleece blanket. She is calling that her ’65 blitz.’

According to Kristy Mason who is the manager of the Harry and Eve Vickar Shelter, fundraising is happening within the shelter as well.

There are T-shirts, farmhouse signs, and masks for sale to raise money for when specific animals need surgery.

“We had a cat that came in that needed an amputation done so we did a GoFundMe page for him,” Mason said. “In under 12 hours we had enough money to cover his whole surgery so that was pretty fantastic.”

Foster families are also needed with the shelter having around 40 cats in their care and about four dogs. Anyone that wants to foster is asked to fill out an application form on their website.

Fostering often leads to adoption but also helps them with learning how to be pets again being in a home rather than the shelter.

“We always encourage fostering but we do try to push it harder when numbers are high so we have room for emergency cases,” Mason said. “Year round we encourage it as well because it is also good for the animals mental health.”

A huge donation came in recently from Pet Valu in Humboldt of food, litter, jackets and treats.

Pet Valu in Humboldt makes generous donation to the NESPCA. (Facebook/North East SPCA)

According to Mason, there is always a need for litter and adult cat food at the shelter. They will take donations of those items or monetary donations at any time.

The shelter is open Wednesday to Saturday from 12 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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angie.rolheiser@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Angie_Rolheiser

by Angie Rolheiser

Melfort fundraising group presents cheque to NESPCA, encourage others to do the same

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