A group of shelter volunteers recently formed a nonprofit organization, Supporters of the Bloomfield Animal Shelter (SOBAS), in order to raise money and hold events to benefit the animals at the Bloomfield/Bukowski Animal Shelter.
The nonprofit received its tax-exempt 501(c)(3) designation in July. The organization is directed by a ten-member Board of Trustees and a governing body consisting of four officers: President, Jaclyn Mendyk; Vice President, Paige Sato; Treasurer, Marlene LaTorre; and Secretary, Diane Myers.
SOBAS plans to host fundraising events and adoption events, as well as collect donations on an ongoing basis to benefit the animals at the shelter. The money collected will be used for expenses above and beyond running the shelter on a day-to-day basis, which is the purview of the township. These expenses may include extraordinary medical expenses; funding to send an animal to a rescue or sanctuary; paying for special accommodations or equipment, and more. All donations to SOBAS will be tax-deductible.
“We are very excited to work directly with the community to help raise money for the shelter’s needs,” said SOBAS President, Jaclyn Mendyk. “Forming a 501(c)(3) also makes us eligible for many grants that aren’t available to municipal shelters,” she added.
The Supporters of the Bloomfield Animal Shelter will be participating in the Bloomfield Harvest Fest on October 8 and 9, 2016, and will be bringing along some of the animals that are available for adoption. All attendees are invited to stop by and learn more about the organization.
Anyone interested in learning more about SOBAS can follow them on their new Facebook page.
The Bloomfield Animal Shelter is located at 61 Bukowski Place, Bloomfield, NJ. They are open to the public from noon to 5 p.m. daily (until 7 p.m. on Wednesdays).
Contrary to what some “contrary” people want the public to believe, good things are happening once again at the Bloomfield Animal Shelter!