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The Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday brought many helpers to the ARL! We were lucky to have a group of student volunteers from Alvernia College who took on the huge task of organizing our pet food storage shed. They stacked the bags from back to front with the food about to expire in the front. The ARL is very grateful for their hard work!

 

And we also were so happy to have Girl Scout Troop 1537 of Northeastern, PA spend the afternoon with us! They brought in donations and made dog toys and food containers for the cats. Thanks to Gail Hauserman and her girls for your hard work!

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Since early October, donations have been coming into the ARL to honor the memory of Mary Lee Rowe who passed away in September. We surmised that she must have really loved animals. On December 12, we discovered that it runs in the family. Mary Lee's daughter, Amelia Barto, and Amelia's daughter and daughter-in-law, pulled up to the ARL with a horse trailer loaded with donations. Instead of a large funeral for Mary Lee, Amelia threw her a big party which is just what she wanted. Invitations went out to over 100 people with the suggestion that they bring donations for the ARL. Being mostly animal lovers, the attendees donated over $500 in cash plus enough donations to fill the horse trailer!

When asked why did they chose the ARL, Amelia simply said, " You're the best!" The ARL is so very grateful to Amelia and her friends for being so generous!

 

 

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The ARL is constantly amazed at the generosity of children! Five-year-old Tanner Aston went door-to-door in his neighborhood and collected donations for the homeless animals at the ARL. Five years old!!

 

And Kaley McBrairty, Briana McBrairity and Danielle Wonder of Exeter Township decided to do a fundraiser in honor of their dogs who had passed away. They went around their neighborhood and performed songs and dances and collected $105 plus other donations!

 

You are all AMAZING!!  Thanks from the staff and animals at the ARL.

 

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It's not only the kids who are having parties and asking attendees to bring donations for the ARL! For Halloween this year, Janeen Grell held a party with about 40 people and asked that her guests bring donations of dog and cat food (wet and dry), cleaning supplies, paper products, and kitty litter. The donations filled three bins in the ARL's lobby!  Thanks much, Janeen!

 

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Every now and again, the ARL receives donations from children who have opted for donations to the ARL instead of getting birthday presents. Recently, Naishalie McPeak did just this. For her 11th birthday party, she asked that attendees to her party bring donations of dog and cat food instead of presents. Thanks Naishalie!! You are an inspiration!

 

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Kids like 9-year-old Jessica Troop are true role models! She wanted to help the animals at the ARL so she organized a yard sale and asked people to bring donations of dog food and other items to help the animals. She set a goal to raise $100.00. She sold her own things and was given other items to sell. She raised almost $300.00!  She then went to the ARL's web site and found our wish list. She took the money that she raised and went shopping to get what the shelter needed. Between the items she purchased and the items that were donated, she easily filled the ARL's donation bin. It took her, her sister and their friend at least four trips from the car to bring everything in.

This story was submitted by Jessica's aunt, Jeanette Penrose, who is so proud of her niece. Below is a photo of the flyer that Jessica made for the yard sale.

The ARL is proud of Jessica, too, and so grateful that Jeanette told us about her special niece!

 

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The 4th Annual Carnival for the Animals was held at the ARL on September 25. Thanks to everyone who came out for a fun day!
 

   

    

        

 

     

 

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ASSOCIATED WHOLESALERS INC. HOLDS FUNDRAISER FOR PAGERLY AND ARL

Berks County Deputy Sheriff Kyle Pagerly loved animals, and was a generous supporter of the Animal Rescue League of Berks County. He and his wife Alecia adopted their dog, Bentley, from the ARL. After Deputy Pagerly was killed in the line of duty on June 29, Terri Hasker and Deb Guy, employees of Associated Wholesalers (AWI) decided to hold a donation drive in honor of Deputy Pagerly for the ARL – because they knew of his caring for the animals. Several of Alecia Pagerly’s family members work for AWI. 

Ms. Hasker and Ms. Guy distributed the ARL’s wish list of needed items from the ARL’s web site and in just one week, they received donations of over 600 pounds of pet food, pet toys, paper goods, cleaning supplies and monetary donations of $561, as well as $200 worth of Purina coupons that the ARL can use.  The Animal Rescue League depends on these kinds of donations and is grateful to everyone at AWI for their help and support, and for caring about the animals. 

AWI is a grocery wholesaler with 500 member stores throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

Thanks from the staff and animals of the ARL!
 

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The 2011 Dog Days Gala was held on July 22 at the Sovereign Performing Arts Center. Thanks to everyone who make it a special and successful evening. Here are a few photos, courtesy of Kopicki Photography:

 

           

 

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The ARL's Grey Muzzle foster program received its largest donation EVER last week. Much thanks and paws up to Kyra Hoerr (shown here with Marcy Tocker, Grey Muzzle Coordinator) and Dorothy Lehman Hoerr for raising $650.00 for the senior dogs! Just in time because we have some medical bills coming up!! How could we ever thank such generous people?!

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"My Dad (ARL board president Barrie Pease) took me to the Reading Express game and I got into this Zumba thing.

Low cal snacks and some more Zumba and I’ll be in swimsuit shape by summer."

--Lillie Marlene

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Join the ARL and Crime Alert Berks to stop animal abuse.  Below are several of the posters that have been placed around the county.  Feel free to copy them and place them in your area:

 

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