A local radio talent will be “ruffing” it next weekend as part of a multiday fundraiser in support of Animal Friends of North Central West Virginia.
For the third consecutive year, WVAQ’s Just Jaime — Jaime Williams in her everyday life — will be Camping for Canines in the parking lot of The Glass Factory on University Avenue in Star City.
Jaime said she will pitch a tent, build a campfire, and collect donations from passersby starting Friday Aug. 25 until Sunday Aug. 27 — or until she hits her $10,000 goal.
“We really collect donations sometimes a dollar or two at a time to reach $10,000,” she said. “Occasionally people will say ‘well, I only have $2 in my pocket.’ – well that $2 will get us there.
“People are always very generous, and we now have Venmo and PayPal as well, so it’s going to be a fun time out there.”
Animal Friends runs a nonprofit, no-kill shelter that provides veterinary services, facilitates adoptions and houses and feeds abandoned and unwanted animals.
“I myself adopted a dog and it’s something that’s really important to me and to a lot of people,” Williams said of her motivation to continue the fundraiser year after year.
“There’s a lot that goes into this organization and they really need all the funding they could get,” she said. “This is kind of fun way we can help them raise those funds.”
On average, Animal Friends rescues around 500 local animals every year, but this year has been busier than normal according to Katie Short, Animal Friends Shelter Coordinator.
“This year alone, the amount of animals we typically adopt out in a year we’ve already surpassed,” Short said. “So, it’s been a crazy year. There’s been a lot of animals adopted and even more still coming in and it’s not letting up anytime soon.”
Short said Camping for Canines is the nonprofit’s biggest fundraiser of the year and really helps relieve some of the stress of finding funding. The money raised during the event will go toward general care for the animals including vet care and typical routine care like food. The organization will also be able to put some of the funds toward facility management, such as building repairs or improvements like new cages.
“This money does a lot of good and it’s able to kind of allow us to save a few extras here and there and improve our facilities overall,” Short said. “It allows us to stretch the dollar a little further, if you will.”
Short said Animal Friends is also working on future plans to grow the shelter — and possibly even build a new facility — which will require a lot of money.
With this being her third year “camping for canines,” Williams has the routine down pat.
“I always have someone out there with me, so that keeps it kind of fun,” she said, “but, you know, we’ve got a little Bass Pro Shop campsite set up out there … and we just sort of sit around and try to stop people who are walking by and explain what we’re doing there.”
“Jaime does an excellent job with this event – it’s very important and it’s her way of helping us out,” Short said.
“Things like this fundraiser are very important to our ability to do what we do. Without public donation, without doing these types of fundraisers – we don’t get to save animals. This is a year we really need to step up our game and get some more money in here so we can keep saving these guys.”
Last year, Williams camped out at Morgantown Powersports on Mileground Road and reached the $10,000 goal in 44 hours. The previous year the $10,000 goal was achieved in just 34 hours at Suncrest Towne Centre.
This year, Williams is determined to meet her goal again.
“I’m gonna be out there at The Glass Factory and I’m not leaving ‘til I get $10,000,” she said.
If you would like to support Animal Friends during the Camping for Canines fundraiser, you can donate directly to Williams next weekend at The Glass Factory, 3345 University Ave., or directly to Animal Friends via Venmo @afncwv or PayPal @animalfriendsNCWV.
