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Ohio organization lends needy hand
To the Editor:
Once in a while, Humane Society Shelters will make the mainstream news, but very rarely, if ever, do you hear about the other organizations that work behind the scenes, yet play an instrumental role in the success and future of our shelters.
Rescue organizations are the key to keeping orphaned animals moving out of the shelters and into more locations to help facilitate quicker placement into loving foster homes or permanent homes.
Most people know little about these wonderful groups and their impact on the community or their importance to the future success of local humane shelters.
Still, other organizations help to provide food services, medical grants and supplies to shelters and rescues.
A few months ago, I was fortunate enough to come across one of these amazing organizations, Blankets and Bones, founded by Melissa Morrison in Cincinnati, Ohio.
They are a small group of non-profit volunteers who supply new blankets, towels and treats to any rescue or shelter in need.
They have helped thousands of orphaned animals stay warm and provided comfort from cold concrete or dirt floors.
Immediately upon contacting Melissa about our struggles and needs, she responded and offered every resource she had available to help our small shelter.
They offered so much more than just blankets and were very excited to be able to do so.
Not only did they supply blankets, but they started a chip-in for our shelter to buy supplies and took up donations for their trip to Clay County.
Cheri Morgan, a member of the organization's father, Gary Plopida, and best friend Rick Sierman, volunteered to personally deliver the items to us and assemble beds that they personally designed and made by hand.
When they arrived, they were full of smiles, excitement and eager to jump in and make beds and help out anyway they could.
It took quite some time to unload all of the items they brought and I still don't know how it all fit in there and still had room enough for the two men to sit.
They brought blankets, towels, treats, food, cleaning supplies, toys, medicine, thunder shirts, coats and sweaters, leashes, collars, tarps, two radios and speakers, their tools and all the supplies needed for the beds, plus made a monetary donation, too.
We spent the afternoon laughing and joking as we assembled the beds piece by piece.
These beds are impressive and better than even the most expensive name brand ones on the market today.
Kathy O'Leary and I wanted to buy them lunch and ordered food and drinks to be delivered.
When it arrived, Rick insisted on buying. After a brief battle back and forth between the three of us, Rick won and bought lunch and drinks for everyone who was there at the shelter.
There was a couple of times throughout the day I had to excuse myself and go find a quiet place alone because I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes.
I was in awe with generosity, caring, compassion and professionalism of this organization and these two wonderful gentlemen.
Gary and Rick were perfect ambassadors for this truly amazing and inspiring organization and are planning to make the trek again with more beds for us.
Thanks to Blankets and Bones and their wonderful group, the orphans at Clay County Humane Society will be resting a little more comfortably and a lot warmers on these cold, winter days.
I know I will never be able to truly express how grateful I am to them or what a blessing they are to so many, but again, I want to say thank you all.
And it just goes to show you, sometimes you have to look further than your back yard for help, even if it's all the way to Cincinnati, Ohio.
Darlene Hayes,
Clay County Humane Society Secretary