By: Claire Roberson, Communications Director
Some may find that animal welfare is a craft. Among all of the shelters across the state, how do we make our animals stand out from the crowd and find them homes quickly? A funny video? A sad story? A heartwarming photo? How do we provide for the area’s pet owners? Provide affordable veterinary care? Offer educational resources to keep pets in homes? In what ways can we involve the community to build support? Run an interactive, growing volunteer program? Send out appeals in times of crisis to raise donations and awareness? Plan original, fun events to get the community involved?
Across the board for nonprofits, creativity is key in spreading our mission and reaching those passionate about the goals we share. In South Carolina, alone, there are over 13,000 charitable organizations (https://sos.sc.gov/) to choose from when deciding where to show your support. Even though charity work is not a competition, it is quite literally lifesaving to make ourselves stand out from the crowd in one way or another.
One of our favorite ways to do this is through events because we get to come together with our supporters and have some fun, all while saving lives and raising awareness for our shelter animals we all care so passionately about. And what better way to collaborate on behalf of the animals than by combining our “craft” with yours!
On Saturday, October 16th from 8am to 2pm, the SPCA Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare (located at 199 Willow Run Road in Aiken) will be hosting our first ever (My Dog Has) Flea(s) Market and we are LOOKING FOR CRAFT VENDORS to share their craft and help save lives in the process. Your participation in this event helps us raise awareness of and contributions for the homeless animals in our care. Do you live in a neighborhood that doesn’t allow yard sales? We welcome your participation, too! *Yard sale items are required to be salable and in good condition.*
The SPCA Thrift Store’s vehicle will be there after the event to take any items you wish to be donated to the Store to sell for contributions for supplies & vet care of our shelter animals. Vendor signups end on October 1st. An online application is available at: LetLoveLive.org/event/spca-flea-market.
Vendor fees do apply, but 100% of your contribution goes directly to our animals and 100% of sales from your booth go directly to YOU!
For those interested in attending this event and interested in shopping our first ever Flea Market, MARK YOUR CALENDARS for Saturday, October 16th from 8am to 2pm; 199 Willow Run Road, Aiken. There will be vendors of all varieties, food & drink and your friendly, furry companions are welcome to join the fun!
This event is proudly supported by MERCK Animal Health.
Join the SPCA Albrecht Center and share YOUR craft with us and help save the lives of over 1,300 homeless & neglected animals we take in every year. We are so grateful to the many ways our community supports us every single day. You never let a day go by without letting our animals know they are loved and not forgotten. Thank YOU!
An Aiken native and self-proclaimed cat lady, Claire Roberson is the SPCA Albrecht Center’s Communications Director, working in marketing, grant writing and media correspondence. She attended College of Charleston, where she graduated with a degree in Nonprofit Business and interned with Charleston Animal Society, the leader in No-Kill South Carolina. When not working, you can find Claire hanging out with her 18-pound Maine Coon mix, Anakin.
The SPCA Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare is a private, nonprofit, no kill animal shelter in Aiken, SC. The SPCA also operates a local Thrift Store (“Where Shopping Saves Lives”), a public, affordable Veterinary Care Center & a Dog Park. It is our mission to improve the lives of companion animals by rehoming abused, abandoned, and neglected pets while fighting for their well-being through vigorous legislative efforts, humane education, and by offering affordable veterinary care for all.
WANT TO SUPPORT OUR HOMELESS ANIMALS?
