VANCOUVER — To help individuals and teams turn up the heat on their fundraising efforts, the Humane Society for Southwest Washington (HSSW) will launch the first ever Walk/Run for the Animals “Treats for People + Pets” real and virtual bake sale on April 21 and 22.
“This is a fun spin on a traditional bake sale that helps fundraisers give extra incentives to support the animals,” says Stacey Graham, president of HSSW. “For two days, people will sell baked goods face to face or offer a virtual cupcake badge for online contributors to display on their social media. We’re encouraging people to bake treats for animals and we’re providing links to pet treat recipes.”
Walk/Run for the Animals has a proud history of offering baked treats for animals thanks to doggie biscotti donations from the Battle Ground Barkery, www.bgbarkery.com. This year, students with disabilities from the Battle Ground Public Schools Futures transition program are donating 1,600 sample bags of their handmade mini doggie biscotti to include in Walk/Run participant event bags.
”We have 16 students between the ages of 18 and 21 from Battle Ground and Prairie high schools who bake the Barkery’s doggie biscotti three or four mornings a week,” explains Jodie Rogers, teacher at Battle Ground Public Schools. The students gather at a school-district-owned facility and fill a double oven with handmade, cut, and rolled dough by 10 a.m. The result is approximately 20 trays of freshly baked doggie biscotti a day.
“It’s a very labor-intensive process but they all work together at different tasks,” says Rogers. “Everyone is capable of working in some capacity – even those with limited mobility can do a lot – you just have to figure out which job plays to their strengths.”
The Barkery’s biscotti is distributed to stores, veterinary offices, dog groomers, and coffee houses in Clark County and in Portland, Ore. Proceeds of the biscotti support the Futures transition program.
In the afternoons, the students go to job sites to gain volunteer or work experience. The Barkery originally got involved in supporting the Walk/Run event because HSSW is one of the Futures’ jobsites. Three Futures students volunteer several afternoons a week in the cattery at HSSW, including Lilie Wooster.
“Working at the Barkery makes me feel like I’m a part of something. I enjoy making a product that I know the dogs love,” Wooster says. “I have always loved animals, and volunteering at the humane society makes me feel good that I’m making an impact.”
Treats for People + Pets Bake Sale
Fundraisers for the Walk/Run for the Animals and their supporters can have an impact, too, by participating in the real and virtual bake sale on Fri., April 21 and Sat., 22.
“Many people ask about fundraising ideas so this two-day fundraising push allows us all to reward people for donating to Walk/Run,” says Graham.
While people can make and distribute real treats as incentives for donations, HSSW created a virtual cupcake badge for fundraisers to offer through social media for online contributions. HSSW is also supporting the effort with links to yummy recipes for people and pets on Pinterest, and recipes and bake sale strategies on Facebook.
Funds raised through Walk/Run for the Animals support adoption services, medical support, food and shelter, and support for community programs benefitting more than 8,000 animals each year. Taking place on Saturday, May 6, the Walk/Run for the Animals is a dog-friendly three-mile walk or 5k chip-timed run at Esther Short Park in the heart of downtown Vancouver from 7:30am to 12 noon. Registration for the event is available at http://southwesthumane.org/walk-run.
In 2016, the Humane Society for Southwest Washington (HSSW) sheltered more than 8,000 animals offering adoption services, Safe Haven temporary housing, low-cost spay and neuter surgeries, and medical care. HSSW facilitated more than 4,880 adoptions in 2016 alone with 25 percent of all adoptions coming from the Portland area. In addition, HSSW distributes thousands of pounds of pet food each year in collaboration with Clark County Food Bank. More than 880 volunteers work with HSSW animals, and provide laundry services, assistance in the clinic, ReTails Thrift Store support, event assistance and outreach activities.
