My disabled wife's therapy cat recently has a urinary blockage, which is usually fatal, and he spent three days in the Veterinary hospital receiving treatment.  he is home now, and doing well, and the Vet's progrosis is for full recovery.  Because my wife and I are currently on a fixed income, we had to spend next month's mortgage payment to pay for his recovery.  I would rather lose my house than allow a loved family member to die for economic expediency.  All true animal lovers will understand my position.  As long as there is a chance the pet will survive, and they are not suffering, I will attempt to save them.  This has put us in a dire financial position, and we are attempting to raise funds so that we may possibly keep our home in these dire economic straights.  Please consider donating, or if you are unable, please share this with anyone you can (facebook, blog, etc.)  Click on the picture above to go to the indiegogo.com fundraising campaign I have setup to help recoup our costs.  Our friends (and strangers) have been very generous thus far, but we are a long away from raising the money spent to save our beloved cat, who provides my disabled wife with comfort for the pain and depression she suffers from due to her on-the-job injury in 2000.  God bless you if you can help!  If not, please sent "get well kitty vibes" or pray for him to whatever deity you feel appropriate.  Thank you in advance, any donations are sincerely appreciated.

"Chocolate, Cheese, Cabernet, and Cats" - A Benefit Event Hosted by Feline Friends What do these 4 C's have in Common? Sweet and Comforting! You're cordially invited to a benefit for Feline Friends, an all-volunteer cat rescue group,on Tuesday, April 6 from 4-6 p.m. at 6515 Sexton Dr. NW in Olympia (at Steamboat Island Road and Highway 101). Feline Friends recently took in and has been working to place 36 cats from a hoarding situation in south Thurston County (see Komo4 news article link below). Chocolate, cheese, cabernet, and cats will be the focus of this wonderful evening! For more information about Feline Friends, please visit their website at: http://www.feline-friends.net. The event is co-hosted by Steamboat Animal Hospital. News article link: "More than 30 cats rescued from Rochester home": http://olympia.komonews.com/content/more-30-cats-rescued-rochester-home

OLYMPIA- The Volunteer Center and Olympia Federal Savings are pleased to announce the Be the Change Contest. Volunteers and volunteer groups will have a way to “Pay It Forward” by first volunteering in the community to assist the causes they care about and as a result of that volunteerism, winning the opportunity to designate a cash award for the charity of their choice.

One group will win a year of free Web site hosting. The contest is part of the Volunteer Center’s Summer of Service inspired by Pres. Obama's United We Serve initiative. A list of Summer of Service opportunities and events can be found at www.volunteer.ws. Project ideas must be submitted to frieda@volunteer.ws by Sept. 11, 2009.

Prizes will be awarded based on creativity, innovation, and community engagement as decided by a panel of community members. Prizes will be awarded in the following categories:

First Prize: Community Changers: Awarded to the group with the biggest community impact, winners of this award must explain how their project made a difference. Winner receives $250 toward their favorite nonprofit organization’s NEXT project

Second Prize: Group Dynamics: Awarded to group that engages the largest number of volunteers. Winner receives Web site hosting for a nonprofit organization from GCI Ad Agency.

Third Prize: Building Bridges: Awarded to the group that engages the most volunteers of diverse backgrounds i.e. age, race, socio-economic background. Winner receives $100 donation to favorite nonprofit organization.

Fourth Prize: We Are Family: Awarded to most creative volunteer project involving family members. Each of three winners will receive prizes of $50 donated to their favorite charitable organization.

What’s a creative idea? Want some thoughts on how to be innovative? Need a jumpstart for your community building brainstorm sessions? Consider these ideas:

• 
• 
• Google Plus One
• Facebook Like

My wife and I recently went on a shopping trip to pick up some coats, hats, and umbrellas, as well as some hand-warmers for the people in the camp. We've decided that we want to be more active in the community, and to be directly involved in the lives of people who have the greatest need. We want to partner with groups (such as the camp) who are already knee-deep in the situation, and are doing whatever they can to help. And we want to help people get out of the situation they're in and work to equip them with skills and opportunities they need to get back on their own feet.

Read more from Olympia blogger Josh at Hungry and Cold via his newprotest.org site. Comments are enabled there.

 

There are many men and women in Olympia bearing the elements today without adequate clothing and supplies. Because it's not below freezing, the Salvation Army is not observing 'cold weather rules' and letting people stay inside. Also, the shelter will not admit those without photo ID, and Bread and Roses cannot provide enough funds to cover all those who need it. If anyone has any supplies at all please consider braving the roads and dropping them off to Bread and Roses today. People are coming in soaked to the bone in their only set of clothing. Here's an idea of what is needed:

Rain-gear of any kind

Jackets

Long johns

boots

gloves, scarves, hats

tarps

socks, socks, and more socks

tents

I cannot adequately portray the dire need of supplies in this kind of weather. Pneumonia, bronchitis, the flu and other illnesses will run rampant after this bad run of weather. If this is a matter near to your heart, please consider calling the city and asking for large scale emergency shelter to be opened, TODAY, whether it be a warehouse, an unused city building, or whatever else. If it's miserable going from your front door to your car, can you imagine sleeping in this muck?

Bread and Roses Advocacy Center 1009 4th Avenue E

(360) 754.4588