Feb. 14, 2013: Our readers write

Community works together on animal shelter

We are building a new animal shelter for Hardin County and the community is pulling together to help. The PAWS Shelter Foundation is starting to get the support it needs to complete the new shelter at 220 Peterson Drive.

Although construction has begun, PAWS is far from its financial goal to build a 14,000 square foot shelter that is so desperately needed. It takes $78 a square foot to complete the already paid-for shell building and land.

As the concrete blocks are being laid to the dog kennels, people are joining forces on Facebook to support PAWS, 500 followers and growing this week. People are sending emails to PAWS wanting to volunteer and organize events to raise donations.

South Central Bank contacted PAWS and wants to plan a major fundraising event to support the cause. D’Allis Wright is planning a Junk Yard Sale on May 11. The city of Elizabethtown has asked us to plan a Pet Fest at Freeman Lake on June 22 for the community, all proceeds going to PAWS. Bluegrass Middle School and Meadow View Elementary’s students hosted a Pennies for PAWS drive and raised bags full of coins. Daisy Girl Scouts’ troops are donating their cookie sale’s profits, all to PAWS. Lea Bramblett is organizing a biker Draws for Paws Poker Run. Toni Baldwin’s leadership students at James T. Alton school are working on a service project to raise money for PAWS. In lieu of birthday presents, the Springsteen and Howard children asked for donations to PAWS rather than gifts. Thank you for all you do, it is making a difference.

It took one person to have a dream of a better home for the stray animals of Hardin County and now a village is starting to help make it happen.

Diane Shoffner
PAWS Shelter Foundation Inc.
Elizabethtown