Holiday Giving Guide The Heart of the Triangle by sarah evert and megan cutter
this holiday season ends a year that has been difficult economically for many individuals and non-profit organiza- tions. According to the center for Non-Profits, wake county alone has more that 1,200 non-profits contributing $2.7 billion to the wake county economy and employing more than 27,000 triangle area residents. coming on the heels of Non-Profit Awareness month, the holidays offer a time of reflection, thankfulness and a call for each of us to sup- port our community and those less fortunate. the following are just a few of the local organizations that provide a variety of donations and services during the holiday season:
a natural connection with animals - especially cats. She knows the name and personality of nearly every one of the 160 or so that inhabit the Goathouse Refuge for Cats in Pittsboro. Scarpa, who has been taking care of cats and other rescued animals since she was a child, founded the refuge as a non-profit in 2007. Now, Scarpa, forty volunteers, and two veterinary techni- cians work daily to help cats in the Triangle. They rescue cats from euthanasia at high-kill county shelters and take in feral and abandoned cats. Each cat receives medical care and vaccinations and is
the goathouse refuge W
micro-chipped and neutered or spayed. The volunteers make a strong effort to prepare the cats for adoption into loving homes. In just the last two months of the past summer they found homes for sixty-four. The workers strive to make the refuge a place where the cats can live in comfort while they await adoption. In line with this goal, the cats are kept cage-free and are allowed to roam the enclosed three-acre property and a few indoor rooms. The refuge receives no government funding. In fact, the majority of its funding comes from sales of Scarpa’s pottery and ceramic work, so donations are vital. This holiday season, the refuge is in need of volunteers, cleaning and pet care items, and, of course, funds. It especially needs someone who can help with fundraising and events. To volunteer, adopt, or make a donation, visit www.goat-
houserefuge.org or call 919-542-6815. The refuge is located at 680 Alton Alston Road in Pittsboro, NC 27312.
wake county sPcA F
18 NA Triangle
www.natriangle.com
hile she doesn’t go by a nickname such as “Cat Whis- perer,” or “Animal Whisperer,” Siglinda Scarpa does have
for abandoned and stray cats, dogs, and small exotic animals. It is not affiliated with other SPCAs or the ASPCA. In 2010 the shelter began operating as no-kill. With its strong Behavior and Training Department, the or-
ganization strives to match people with pets with which they’re most likely to form lifelong bonds. In order to combat behavior problems, the SPCA offers its behavioral services to adopters for the lifetime of the pet. They will design a customized train- ing and behavior modification program, using non-aversive techniques, designed to solve any issues between the adopter and the pet. The SPCA staff hopes that providing this special, individualized service will help keep SPCA pets in their new homes forever. Adopters are also offered basic training courses from the organization. The SPCA receives no government funding. About eight-
hundred volunteers contribute their time in order to make the organization possible. Donations supply the majority of the funding, as adoption fees are not equal to the cost of care pro- vided to animals. The organization places over 3,000 animals each year. To volunteer, donate, or adopt, visit the SPCA website at
www.spcawake.org or call 919-772-2326.
read, connect, grow! local book drives
literacy skills and gives a sense of connection and imagination. For children in foster care who may not have parents to read to them or have their own books, receiving a book can bring smiles and joy. Gently used children’s books are being collected to give
F
ounded in 1967, the Wake County Society for the Preven- tion of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) rescues and finds homes
to the 300 foster children in the Methodist Home for Children program. Drop off points include The Storyteller’s Book Store at
or children in foster care, the holidays can be a difficult time of the year. Reading books aloud to children improves their
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56