Animal lovers raise funds for spay, neuter clinic
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
RONAN – In November, St. Luke Community Hospital employee Kim McMillie was approached by the Lake County Spay and Neuter Task Force, for help with the spay and neuter clinic. McMillie agreed, volunteering her time for the cause. The task force provides two free spay and neuter clinics a year.
When McMillie arrived to help at the clinic she realized there was more she could offer than just her time.
“They really needed some help,” she said.
The task force has struggled to obtain functional equipment to handle the large load of animals that go through the clinic biannually.
According to McMillie, one of the group’s main needs has been sterilizing equipment.
“I was amazed at how many animals go through there,” she said. “I was determined to help them get better equipment.”
Helping the task force has been a rewarding experience, she says.
“(Helping) makes you want to do more,” McMillie said.
Mickie Ross and Vaun Collier, McMillie’s coworkers, have joined in her efforts to raise money for equipment, including an autoclave, a machine used to sterilize medical equipment with high pressure steam.
“I have used the clinic in the past,” Collier said, “so I know how important this clinic is for people here.”
Ross says there was a large increase in stray animals when the clinic was unable to provide the spay and neuter service in the past.
“They do a very important thing for the area,” she said.
According to Collier, she has put five cats and two dogs through the clinic.
“Vaun’s a cat nut, I’m a dog nut, and Kim is a peanut,” Ross said with a smile.
Though she currently doesn’t have any pets, McMillie is an avid animal lover.
“We’ve been blessed with a lot of help from the St. Luke staff,” Ross said. “People really stepped up big.”
Since November, the trio has been holding bake sales and raffles to raise money to purchase the $3,000 autoclave. A March 17 bake sale was held at St. Luke's, bringing in more money than they ever expected.
“So many people brought in baked items,” McMillie said. “It went on all morning.”
“Everyone was generous,” Collier added, “We raised over $900 in a few hours.”
According to Ross, people frequently donated the change from their purchases. The overwhelming generosity of the community has been very surprising to the group.
“It’s like an avalanche,” Collier said. “The (fundraising) effort just spilled out of the hospital into the public.”
On April 1, the group will be holding its largest fundraiser so far, a raffle with more than 25 items to give away. The drawing will begin at 3 p.m. in the St. Luke's lobby.
Prizes include $50 gift certificates to Super One Foods and Harvest Foods and a 42” plasma HDTV to name a few. Each raffle ticket is $2, or 6 for $10.
All proceeds benefit the Spay and Neuter Task Force. According to McMillie, her group has already raised enough money to cover the purchase of an autoclave. Additional monies raised will be put to other areas of need for the clinic.
“If you can donate it is wonderful, if you can’,t so be it,” Ross said.
To buy tickets or donate, call (406) 471-0371.
