The incredible work that Lakeshore PAWS does to save the lives of countless animals is only possible through the work of their volunteers. On Tuesday evening, Lakeshore PAWS celebrated those supporters with a volunteer appreciation party.
The small army of volunteers gathered at the shelter to enjoy pizza, drinks, and a variety of snacks. The party gave them a chance to relax, chat, and have a little bit of fun as thanks for their constant effort. As a nonprofit, Lakeshore PAWS is funded entirely by donations and adoption fees, so the work that the volunteers provide is essential for providing a happy and healthy environment for the dozens of dogs they care for.
“Their support is so critical,” said Jeanne Sommer, Founder/Director of Lakeshore PAWS and Owner of Century 21 Alliance Group. “We couldn’t accomplish what we do without the volunteers. They fill every kind of role - Katie does events, Marsha does cleaning, Mary fosters, Gary does meet and greets. They all help the process run smoothly and find homes for the dogs.”
Jacki Stutzman, a board member for Lakeshore PAWS, sponsored the party – including special painting sets created by Connected Paint. As a local business, Connected Paint creates black and white designs on canvas that they then divide into multiple panels. One person paints one panel each, using one set of colors for the white space and a second set of colors for the black space.
“Each table has its own set of panels,” said Kaylee Brant, co-founder of Connected Paint. “There are a couple of shared designs like there are two pit bulls, but each has a different color palette so they wind up looking completely different.”
For Lakeshore PAWS, Connected Paint created custom designs featuring different dogs. Each volunteer took one panel, painted it with their own design, and reassembled their contributions into a finished product.
“It’s kind of a representation of Lakeshore PAWS and their volunteers,” said Brant. “Each person brings their own part to make a whole. It’s like the volunteers and all the different roles they fill coming together to make Lakeshore PAWS and what they do for all these dogs.”
Some volunteers took a simple approach, filling in the blanks with solid colors. Others added personal flourishes with unique patterns and mixtures of colors. Some of the finished works will decorate the walls of the shelter, while others will be auctioned at a later date to support the dogs.
“Our volunteers are just unbelievable,” Stutzman said. “This core of volunteers is so good, they always know just what to do. If they see something that needs doing, they just get right into it.”
To learn more about Lakeshore PAWS, visit www.lakeshorepaws.org.