09/01/09

News & Notes

Bringing BC’s Communities together

Thanks for the help, Ashcroft Published: August 17, 2009 3:00 PM

Dear Editor

Around 2:30 one morning, Noah’s Wish arrived at the Drylands Arena in Ashcroft with 142 animals in horse trailers and volunteer vans. We unloaded the crates of dogs and cats. Mothers with pups or kittens travelled in cars as did the rabbits, fish and birds. Bob Sidwell was there to welcome us and coordinate housing and feeding of the horses. Thanks Bob. A few hours later, the townspeople started to arrive to offer help. We were desperately short of crates, fans, extension cords, dog and cat food, and coffee. Suddenly we were inundated with supplies for the pets and coffee, muffins, fruit for the exhausted and hungry volunteers. How can Noah’s Wish thank the people of Ashcroft – the small town with the big heart? You welcomed us, fed us, washed our clothes and even let us use your showers and beds to rest. Thank you, Josh White for your support 24 hours a day. You were our angel! Val Martin coordinated our meals and snacks and tried to control the flow of chili, roast beef dinner, salads, muffins, sticky buns, spaghetti, biscuits, water, snacks, ice tea, ice cream cones, etc. We took the leftovers to the volunteers in Lillooet who had been living on chips & pizza. Thanks Val. Thank you to the many dog walkers and those who cleaned the cat cages. You are too many to name! Without your support, our small team of volunteers could not have cared for the pets. Thank you. Thanks to the foster family who cared for the two dogs and the family who took the old dog to their backyard each day. Thank you Cindy Williams for the loan of eye glasses, ice, and the three-hole punch! The Thrift Store opened its doors and supplied sheets, towels, bowls, and dishes. Irly Bird donated cat litter. We needed photocopies of forms and the corporation office made the copies. Thank you. Thank you, Dyson, for your help in numbering all the crates and sitting with the dogs to calm them. Special thanks to the children of Ashcroft who wanted to help but who could not enter the Arena due to insurance issues and liability. Thank you for understanding! Thanks to the two young girls who returned with treats for the dogs and cats. I hope to see all of you at a Noah’s Wish training session in the future. Thanks to Joan who accompanied the convoy to Lillooet with mother cats and kittens. Thanks to those who not only gave their time but also gave donations. We will never forget the people of Ashcroft for their support and friendship. We hope to see all of you again under different circumstances. To follow your story, check out the website at noahswish.org. Fran Cameron Noah’s Wish Volunteer