We thought we would share our financial information for 2017 with you. In 2017 The Ark took in $47,792.05 in grants, donations and fundraising. Our expenses were $47,109.59. So you can see we are managing to just barely stay out of the red. Our vet bills alone for 2017 were $9,848.48.
In 2017 The Ark took in approximately 55 cats. Most of the cats were from the Houlton area. There were times when the sanctuary was more than full and we had cats in the laundry room and furnace room. We are happy to say that we are down on our numbers and we intend to sit tight, unless, of course, it is a critical case. We did not take in any dogs, as our dog rooms are still not complete. That will be on the agenda for 2018.
Our fundraising efforts have become key for us; they are our bread and butter. In 2017 we raised $21,269.93 just from our fundraising and we took in $15,212.12 in donations. We took in another $770 in adoption fees and $10,000 in grants and also $540 in gifts in kind.
When you stop and look at these numbers, it speaks volumes for everyone involved at The Ark. None of this would be possible without the support from the public and the volunteers who give their time and work so hard. We are so fortunate to have your support. Thank you for believing in our mission.
Please keep in mind, the figures you see above come from hard work and from believing that we can make a change. That change starts with our commitment to help the animals. We have no paid employees, only volunteers. These volunteers have a passion for the animals and they work hard because they love the animals. Their paycheck is seeing the end result, They love each and every animal as if it were their own, and they develop this unspeakable bond. They shed tears when we lose one and they smile when one gets adopted. You can see it in their eyes and feel it when you see them interact with with the animals.
The hallways of The Ark are filled with love, memories and visions. It started out as one person’s dream and with the help of many it has become a reality.
We had our first bake sale of the year a couple of weeks ago and a gentleman stopped by. He was very curious and said, “I don’t think I have ever seen a bake sale in below-zero weather,” and he was amazed that we were having one. That bake sale made $500 that day.
Comments have been made such as “There is none so faithful as The Ark Animal Sanctuary.” These comments make us smile and push us to keep going. They let us know that people notice what we do and how hard we work, and that means a lot.
In 2018 we hope to accomplish even more. We hope to gain more volunteers and be open more hours. We hope to complete the dogs’ rooms and we hope to help even more animals. If you would like to be a part of The Ark team and volunteer, please contact Lorraine at The Hollywood Pet Salon, 532-7387.
Please join us for an Italian dinner at the Elks Club on Saturday, Feb. 24, from 4-8 p.m. The cost is $10 per person; people can dine in or take out. There will also be a dessert sale and silent auction.
Thank you for your continued support, and as always, thank you for reading our column.
