TRACS prepares for renovations, upgrades
THOMPSON FALLS – There’s a popular saying that states volunteers are not paid, not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless.
The true meaning of this saying will come into effect on Saturday, July 26 as the Thompson River Animal Care Shelter comes together with volunteers to help improve their facility.
TRACS, a privately funded non-profit animal care shelter located in Thompson Falls, will utilize the day to spruce up their facilities with the help of a $5,000 renovation grant.
Both Pedigree and the GreaterGood Network have come together to help the facility.
Pedigree has pitched in another $5,000 worth of dog food for the shelter. That money will help provide approximately 100-120 bags of dog food, something that should last the shelter a couple of years, said Wanda Thorpe, founder of TRACS.
The shelter will be given coupons for 40-pound bags of food that can be used to help restock their supply.
The money saved by the newly received food will be rerouted to other services, such as veterinary care, which is approximately 55-60 percent of the shelter’s budget.
Thorpe sent off the grant application in January and was happy to hear TRACS was chosen as the recipient.
“Sometime in March they actually called me back and told me I got it, which was kind of a surprise for me,” Thorpe said. “This is very nice.”
Members of the GreaterGood Network will be flying in to help with the renovation of the facility, which will include an upgrade to the kitchen as well as a clean-up and sprucing up of both the garage area and the shop area. If time allows for it, the work will span further than that, helping to update some other areas of the facility.
“It’s just a nice renovation. It will help us be more organized in the future in terms of garage space and the kitchen will be so much more usable for us,” Thorpe said. “Whatever else is deemed appropriate for the day, we’ll do as long as we have enough people and enough time.”
Wanda said a handful of GreaterGood volunteers will fly out to participate, but the hope is to have more volunteers from the community to help with the renovations.
With more people on hand, the shelter will be able to complete more projects throughout their eight-hour workday.
So far the organization is expecting to have 10-12 volunteers that typically help on a regular basis and are extending the opportunity to volunteer to those in the community.
“Lots of people want to volunteer, but can’t come every week to walk dogs or scoop kitty litter,” Thorpe explained. “This is a good opportunity to come and help out the shelter.”
Volunteers will be provided with coffee and rolls in the morning, a lunch, as well as a free t-shirt.
The renovation grant is the first one TRACS has received.
According to their website, GreaterGood has contributed over $30 million to non-profit charities around the globe since 1999.
“GreaterGood strives to connect a passionate audience with simple online tools to make the world a better place,” states their website. “We turn your desire to make a difference into tangible, documented support for charities that help people, save pets, and improve the planet.”
Anyone interested in signing up to volunteer is encouraged to go to www.surveymonkey.com/s/ThompsonRiverAnimalCareShelter in order to signup.
The volunteer day will span from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 26.
“Join us in making a difference, come meet new friends and be sure to bring old ones. We look forward to seeing new faces and improving TRACS for our animals,” states the TRACS Facebook page.