West Point Clay County Animal Shelter’s Mardi Gras fundraiser has been cancelled
The Mardi Gras Beer and Wine Tasting Event has been a wonderful way to celebrate Mardi Gras and help the West Point Clay County Animal Shelter. It was an event that brought in people from nearby areas to enjoy fun, food, adult beverages, music and dancing. But as most events that have many people gathering, the Mardi Gras Beer and Wine Tasting Event, has been cancelled due to COVID-19.
“We were barely able to have the event in 2020,” Katie Wallace, with the WPCCAS, said. “It wasn’t long afterward that everything was shut down. All of our fundraisers after that were cancelled. We were hoping the pandemic would be over in time for Mardi Gras this year. But it isn’t.”
WPCCAS Director Neely Bryan, was very disappointed that the event would not take place this year.
“I had only been to one, that was last year,” Bryan said. “We were hoping to be able to have it again.
This is our biggest fundraiser of the year. The proceeds along with donations and other fundraisers throughout the year is how we take care of the animals. We are devastated to have to cancel.”
The shelter has been caring for many animals who have been the victims of abuse and neglect. All that the pets need to regain their health come from the fundraisers and donations.
“We need all the support from the community that we can get,” Bryan said.
Melanie Elmore with the WPCCAS is working on some ideas for fundraisers that can take place in spite of the pandemic.
“We will have to do many small fundraisers,” Elmore said. “We know right now everyone has problems that are caused by COVID. But we still need to feed the cats and dogs that we care for, provide
much needed medical treatment and keep the shelter as clean and sanitized as possible.”
Putting together any type of fundraiser takes a lot of time and effort. Volunteers are needed.
“MSU usually sends students to help with dog walking, socializing puppies and kittens and anything else we need,” Elmore said. “But not this year. We can have ten at one time working outside where we would have 30 or more needing community service hours.”
Elmore said they would need volunteers helping to put together fundraisers or to help think of new types of fundraisers.
“We will have raffles,” Elmore said. “Those are usually very successful, but we will need people willing to sell the raffle tickets. We have some other ideas in the works. We will let everyone know when we begin to sell the raffle tickets.”
Melanie hinted that hopefully an event can be put together when the pandemic is under control. Everyone wants to have a return to normal.
“We are still doing transports and stepping our game with other rescue organizations,” Elmore said. “We brought in 40 animals during December,” Elmore said. “For the first time, all of the pets were not adopted from the Angel Tree. It has been a difficult year for us and then to not be able to have the Mardi
Gras Event is devastating.”
The WPCCAS is in need to the following items:
- City garbage bags
- Paper towels
- Mr. Clean
- Pine Sol
- Bleach
- Dishwashing detergent
- Laundry detergent
- Zip lock bags
- Cat litter
- Antibacterial soap
- Dog and cat food
- Toys
- Treats
- Towels
- Bankets
- And any monetary donations.