Presents Four Paws, a fundraiser ran by Greene County Office Building employee Jennifer Koolen, is in its 12th year of gathering necessities for the Humane Society of Greene County to help them make it through the winter. According to Koolen, the society needs the most help during the colder season.
“They [the Humane Society] don’t get a whole lot of donations during the winter months because of the holidays, people get sidetracked,” Koolen says. “There is Toys for Tots; there is lot of stuff for the children, but not much for the animals.”
Koolen started this project years ago while she was working at the Waynesburg Animal Hospital. She wanted to set up a small donation box and just asked around “and it just kind of all fell into place from that point on,” she says.
What began as a collection of gently used towels, blankets, or anything extra at home has grown into a collaboration with the Humane Society. Excluding 2020, the year affected by COVID-19, Koolen has typically seen great success.
“The year before last, we had up to $500 in monetary donations and then truckloads of stuff being brought over to them,” she says.
Jane Gapen, Director of the Greene County Humane Society, expressed gratitude to Koolen via letter for her continued efforts to supply and care for the animals of Greene County.
“Thank you for taking on the ‘Presents Four Paws’ again this year,” Gapen says. “As you no doubt know, the majority of the money we have for operating our shelter comes from donations and fundraisers and we appreciate your doing this, especially during this trying time.”
Although Koolen organizes this fundraiser by herself, she is always overwhelmed by the community support and is hoping that the momentum keeps rolling and that she can collect as many donations as possible.
“I have donation boxes set up all throughout Waynesburg. If people can’t get out and they want to do monetary donations or they need somebody to come pick it up from them, I am more than willing to meet somewhere,” she says. “It’s been wonderful. The community’s outpour of donations has just been wonderful!”
Donation boxes are set up at numerous locations within Waynesburg including the County Office Building, 5 Kidz Kandy, Mickey’s Mens Store, Community Bank, First Federal Bank, Michael’s Hair Salon, Giant Eagle, Waynesburg Milling Co and Brendel Financial. Donation boxes will be there until December 22.
If you are interested in giving to the Humane Society of Greene County this holiday season their wish lists include items for donation such as laundry detergent, Dawn dish soap, gently used towels, washcloths and flat sheets, cat food (Purina and Friskies), dog food (Purina, Pedigree and Alpo), as well as dog and cat toys. Monetary donations and Walmart gift cards are also “gladly accepted.”
Koolen said this year donations already far exceed the year marked by the pandemic, “I think it’s going to be a huge success!”