You may notice a new billboard if you travel south on U.S. 1 Bypass in Henderson. Local business WW Properties has once again donated a billboard for a civic cause.
Tracy Dreibelbis of Animal Advocates Coalition tells WIZS News the billboard came about when the coalition “said yes to the kindness of a local businessman who had billboard space and a passion for the long overdue new (animal) shelter scheduled to soon break ground on Brodie Road.” She said photographer Tara Lynn of In Between the Blinks Photography and an unnamed professional designer helped with the billboard which “gives a hopeful glimpse into a brighter future for the homeless pets of Vance County.”
The present Vance County Animal Shelter stands today at 165 Vance Academy Road, much the same as it did when it was built in 1978. The shelter, according to Dreibelbis, has not seen any renovation, remodeling or expansion in the last 36 years. She said, “Charles Boyd and his family donated five acres of land to Vance County almost five years ago to house a new shelter. Soon, the vision and efforts of many will become a reality.”
The new shelter is expected to be about 8,000 square feet and will include more kennels, a separate intake/exam room, meeting and education space and a separate reception area. This, according to Dreibelbis, will give the present staff, headed by Chief Frankie Nobles, the needed room to work.
To learn more, visit Friends of the Vance County Animal Shelter on Facebook or go to www.vancecountyanimalshelter.com.
Animal Advocates Coalition Launches Shoe Collection Drive to Raise money for Homeless Pets
Shoe donations will also support micro-enterprises in developing nations and reduce what goes into landfills
The Animal Advocates Coalition is conducting a shoe collection drive from October 15 through December 14, 2015 to raise funds for homeless pets. Animal Advocates Coalition will earn funds based on the number of pairs of shoes collected as Funds2Orgs will purchase all of the donated goods. Those dollars will benefit the homeless pets of Vance, Granville, and surrounding communities. Anyone can help by donating gently worn, used or new shoes at any of these drop off locations: WIZS Radio, 535 Radio Lane, Henderson; Butner/Creedmoor News – Creedmoor; Granville Sr. Center – Oxford and Shear Magic – Henderson. If you have a large quantity of shoes, the Animal Advocates Coalition will pick them up from your location. They will also have a collection barrel at the Nov. 14th Hazardous Material Collection Day at the Granville Convention & Expo Center – Oxford.
To help rescued cats and dogs, Funds2Orgs will donate $1,000 to the Animal Advocates Coalition if at least 2,500 pairs of shoes are collected.
All donated shoes will then be redistributed throughout the Funds2Orgs network of micro-enterprise partners in developing nations. Funds2Orgs helps impoverished people start, maintain and grow businesses in countries such as Haiti, Honduras and other nations in Central America and Africa. Proceeds from the shoe sales are used to feed, clothe and house their families. One budding entrepreneur in Haiti even earned enough to send to her son to law school.
“We are excited about our shoe drive,” said Tracey Dreibelbis. “We know that most people have extra shoes in their closets they would like donate to us and help those less fortunate become self-sufficient. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
By donating shoes to the Animal Advocates Coalition “Shoes For Rescues” the shoes will be given a second chance and make a difference in people’s lives.
The Animal Advocates Coalition can be contacted via email at AnimalAdvocatesGC@gmail.com.
Local organizations interested in learning more about conducting a shoe drive of their own can visit Funds2orgs.com.