The St. Augustine Humane Society donated surgery and veterinary care for Mildred Hurley’s cat that had a broken leg and was not neutered.
The injury was reported through an anonymous tip to St. Johns County Animal Control.
When Animal Control Officer Nate Walters arrived at Hurley’s home he determined that although Hurley was a loving pet owner, she was afraid her cat Rondo would be taken from her.
Hurley refused Walters access into her home and made it difficult for him to determine Rondo’s medical status.
Walters spent several days trying to befriend the woman and gain her trust so he could get a look at the injured cat. Hurley owned Rondo since he was a kitten, but was experiencing difficult financial times.
When Rondo got injured, she couldn’t afford treatment.
Walters contacted the St. Augustine Humane Society about help for Hurley and Rondo.
“I understand there are people who are down on their luck and having a hard time,” said Walters. “Pet owners like Mildred are doing their best with what they have and sometimes they just need a little extra help.”
Humane society veterinarian Dr. Isabelle Roese examined Rondo and determined the best she and her medical team could do to help the cat was to amputate its leg.
Hurley did not have to pay for the surgery or neutering services for Rondo.
The funding for the donated services was provided by a renewal grant of $10,000 from the Banfield Charitable Trust to support the humane society’s Cookie Jar Medical Relief Fund. The fund provides assistance for emergency medical treatment for cats and dogs.
The humane society’s low-cost spay neuter and surgery clinic is open 8 a.m.-4 p.m. each Tuesday. The wellness clinic is open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. each Wednesday. Pet owners must pre-register for spay neuter surgery. For an appointment, call (904) 829-2737 or visit staugustinehumanesociety.org.
Dixon Hughes Goodman accounting firm collects cans for local food bank
Accounting firm Dixon Hughes Goodman donated 270,875 pounds of food to food banks as part of the fourth annual Count the Cans campaign.
The firm’s Jacksonville office donated 1,110 cans to the Nourishment Network, as well as 28 hours of service to local nonprofit organizations Feeding Northeast Florida, First Coast No More Homeless Pets and the Clara White Mission.
In total, the firm’s offices in 12 states have donated 3.2 million pounds of food to community food banks during the past four years.
The accounting firm holds its annual campaign at the beginning of the summer because food banks have a more difficult time keeping their shelves stocked in the summer months.
Children who typically rely on school breakfasts and lunches are out of school, forcing parents to seek alternative sources for food.
The Count the Cans campaign draws focus to nutritional and protein-packed items with “Fruity Friday” and “Tuna Tuesday.” This year 59,055 cans of fruit were collected firm-wide on Fruity Friday and 33,527 cans of tuna were collected on Tuna Tuesday.
New name for local homeless coalition
Changing Homelessness, formerly the Emergency Services & Homeless Coalition of Northeast Florida, unveiled its new name.
It also reported a significant drop in the number of homeless military veterans and others in Clay, Duval and Nassau counties during a July 23 event at Sweet Pete’s Downtown.
More than 100 veterans, business and community groups, nonprofit leaders and teams, volunteers and members of the public were in attendance. Jacksonville City Council members Katrina Brown, Jim Love and Sam Newby participated.
In April, Changing Homelessness was one of 71 organizations in the U.S. selected to take part in “Zero: 2016,” a national movement of communities working to end veteran homelessness by the end of 2015 and end chronic homelessness one year later.
The local organization laid out its plan by identifying and tracking people needing housing and establishing a monthly target for success.
Since the program began, the number of homeless veterans who need housing dropped from 233 to 130, an accomplishment that CEO Dawn Gilman said is an indication the strategy is a move in the right direction for Northeast Florida.
Changing Homelessness has forged partnerships with Baptist Health and Wells Fargo to leverage support and resources and launched a community fundraising campaign via social media called “16 for Zero 16.”
The campaign helps cover costs for items that homeless veterans and families need for their homes. The objective is for each member of the community to donate $16 and challenge 16 friends and family members to do the same.
Contributions can be made by visiting changinghomelessness.org and clicking the 16 for Zero 16 icon or via the Changing Homelessness Facebook page at facebook.com/ChangingHomelessnessNEFL.
Donate water and get a free sandwich Saturday
Firehouse Subs is hosting its fourth annual H2O for Heroes fundraiser Saturday at participating Jacksonville restaurants.
Firehouse Subs invites the community to donate one case of 24 bottles of water in exchange for one free medium sandwich.
Local Firehouse Subs in partnership with the brand’s nonprofit, Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, will distribute the water to fire departments and public safety organizations, which aid children, elderly people and those in need of water during the summer months.
In 2005, Firehouse Subs created the foundation with the mission of providing funding, life-saving equipment and educational opportunities to first responders and public safety organizations.
Through the foundation, Firehouse Subs has given more than $14 million to hometown heroes in 43 states and Puerto Rico, including more than $2.6 million in Florida.
Walmart and Sam’s Club raise $255,000 for children’s hospitals
Walmart and Sam’s Club associates, customers and members recently wrapped up a six-week campaign to raise funds for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals across the country.
CMN Hospitals in Jacksonville partnered with 34 Walmart and Sam’s Club locations, including Neighborhood Market stores in Jacksonville and Brunswick, Ga., to raise nearly $255,000 for Wolfson Children’s Hospital and the pediatric programs at UF Health Jacksonville, the two local CMN Hospitals.
Nationally, through donations accepted at cash registers and in-store fundraising activities, Walmart and Sam’s Club raised more than $42 million for the 170 member hospitals across the U.S. and Canada that make up CMN Hospitals network.
To raise funds, local Walmart and Sam’s Club locations hosted associate bake sales, parking lot food tents and a “Zebra Meet and Greet,” that drove fundraising totals to exceed previous years.
Since partnering with CMN Hospitals in 1987, Walmart and Sam’s Club associates have helped raise more than $800 million for sick and injured children. Funds raised impact the 170 CMN Hospitals, which treat one in 10 children in North America.
For more information about Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, visit CMNHospitals.org.