Pets benefited from the Abilene Church Women United’s Christmas Aid Program this past holiday season thanks to a grant from the Keith Schwab Memorial Fund for Animal Welfare with the Community Foundation of Dickinson County.
Vouchers for pet food from local stores were distributed to 64 families who received assistance from the Christmas Aid Program, according to Marie Coulson, program chairman.
“It was a wonderful addition to our program to think about pets,” Coulson said of the grant. “People love their pets and even though they may be short on cash most provide for their pets, but it is expensive.”
The $10 vouchers for dog or cat food were well received by those needing assistance. Coulson said people began asking about the pet food gift certificates as news of the program spread, and more vouchers easily could have been distributed if more funding was available.
“People would tell us what a big part of their lives their pets are, how their animals provide them with unconditional love,” she said. “The vouchers brought smiles to their faces because it was certainly a big help at Christmas when money is tight.”
Keith Schwab loved animals and remembered his furry friends in his estate plans; after his death in 2002 money from part of Schwab’s estate established the fund in his name with the Community Foundation, according to Kristine Meyer, the Foundation’s president.
“The best part about the Community Foundation is that what is given locally remains in the community,” Coulson said.
“The money was given to the foundation, we received the funding for the vouchers, and the vouchers assisted local families who spent them in local stores that employ people in the community,” she said.
Anyone with a desire to support animal welfare in the community may contribute to the Keith Schwab Memorial Fund for Animal Welfare, Meyer said. For more information about estate gifts or endowment funds that benefit specific fields of interest, contact Meyer at 785-263-1863 or info@communityfoundation.us.
Established in 1999, the Community Foundation stewards charitable assets – the result of contributions from families, individuals and businesses who care about our community. The Foundation makes charitable giving easy, flexible and effective.
