South Jersey Pagan Pride

Animal Welfare Association of NJ                                                                 www.awanj.org

The Animal Welfare Association (AWA), is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization providing shelter for orphaned animals, low-cost spay and neuter services, pet assisted therapy and humane education for the community since 1948. For more than fifty years, AWA has been committed to the prevention and eradication of animal suffering. Each year, more than 9,500 animals receive care through AWA programs.

AWA provides care and shelter for orphaned animals with a capacity of 65 dogs and puppies, 150 cats and kittens, and 60 rabbits and small animals. The shelter accepts animals of any species for which appropriate care and housing can be provided, or as an emergency shelter until a more suitable placement can be found. Open seven days a week for adoptions, AWA is well known in the sheltering community for having a very successful adoption program. In addition to adopting animals from the shelter in Voorhees, AWA participates in PETsMART’s Luv-a-Pet Center adoption program, adopting pets from local PETsMART stores. Our off-site adoption team of volunteers participates in numerous community events, fairs and parades throughout the region. In a typical year, we participate in more than 60 community events, giving AWA animals exposure to thousands of people who otherwise may have never considered coming to the shelter.

Upon entering the shelter, animals receive physical exams, are screened for illness and vaccinated. They also undergo periodic behavioral assessment and if needed, participate in an in-house behavior monitoring and rehabilitation program. Environment enrichment is provided to all animals in the form of toys, regular walks or grooming and one on one time with a staff member or volunteer. Significant veterinary care and rehabilitation resources are afforded to animals assessed as sound in temperament who are suffering from physical damage or recovering from treatable illness. Our policy is to euthanize (put to sleep) only dangerous or potentially dangerous animals, animals that do not respond to medical intervention or have terminal illness.

South Jersey Pagan Pride participated in the 2008 Paws & Feet Walkathon and raised $405 for homeless pets!

Kaela Beth DeJesus Memorial Scholarship                    www.kaelabethdejesus.org

Kaela Beth was a loving child, who was taken from us, suddenly on February 8th, 2008. She died of Pneumoccocal Meningitis. She was a cheerleader, and peer counselor. Kae was the kind of kid who would do anything to help another person, or animal.

Even in death Kaela continues to help others, through organ and tissue donation. Kaela's liver, kidneys, pancreas, and lungs were transplanted into 4 separate recipients.

Since Kae enjoyed cheerleading so much, her parents and school have decided to start a scholarship in her name, benefiting a senior from Haddon Township High School, who has been a cheerleader for a minimum of 2 years.

We will also be accepting registrations for Organ and Tissue Donation with Gift of Life, the organization through which Kaela's organs and tissues were donated to save others. Interested in registering? Fill out a form at the Welcome Table at SJPPD.

Gift of Life Donor Program, the non-profit agency serving the eastern half of Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware, is responsible for recovering and distributing organs and tissues used in life-saving and life-enhancing transplants.

Founded in 1974 by the Greater Delaware Valley Society of Transplant Surgeons, Gift of Life is one of the oldest and largest of 58 non-profit, organ and tissue procurement organizations in the United States. Gift of Life is part of the nationwide organ and tissue sharing network run by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). In addition, Gift of Life coordinates life-enhancing tissue transplants for area residents who are in need of corneas for sight-restoring procedures, as well as skin, tissue and bone to repair injuries.

Gift of Life also partners with 150 acute care hospitals to offer families from the state of Delaware, southern New Jersey and the eastern half of Pennsylvania the option of donation.

Checking to box on the back of your driver's license is not enough. If your surviving family is unsure of your wishes, they can over-ride the information on your driver's license. If Organ donation is something you know you would like to participate in, please register with GOL to ensure that your final wishes are honored. Give the Gift of Life. www.donors1.org

Ronald McDonald House                                                                                         www.rmhc.org

A strong mind. A strong body. And a safe, supportive place to grow. These are things that every child needs - and deserves. Helping to provide these things is what we do.By creating, finding and supporting programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children, Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) is working to better the lives of children and their families around the world.

The three core programs of RMHC - the Ronald McDonald House, Ronald McDonald Family Room and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile - are focused on helping families in need. Our cornerstone Ronald McDonald House program began in 1974 based on a simple idea: Provide a "home away from home" for families of seriously ill children receiving treatment at nearby hospitals. Since that time, more than 10 million families around the world have benefited from the comfort provided by a Ronald McDonald House.

The Ronald McDonald Family Room program extends the comfort of a Ronald McDonald House to a hospital setting. Typically located just steps from neonatal or pediatric intensive care units, the Family Room provides a place to escape the stress and tension of the hospital. Through relationships with local health care providers, the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile program brings cost-effective medical, dental and health education services directly to underserved children in both rural and urban areas around the world.

South Jersey Pagan Pride will be collecting canned and dry goods, toothbrushes, toiletries, and other material donations for RMHC.

SJ Pagan Pride Day                                                                          www.southjerseypaganpride.org

The funds collected through donations, vendor fees, chinese auction and advertising will go towards maintenance costs of this and next years events. South Jersey Pagan Pride is a New Jersey Non Profit Corporation, which is a part of the Pagan Pride Project, Inc. If you would like to volunteer or make a donation, please contact us at southjerseypaganpride@gmail.com