National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week: Nov 1-7

In 1996, The Humane Society of the United States launched National
Animal Shelter Appreciation Week to pay tribute to shelter and their volunteers — and educate the public about animal welfare in their own communities. 

The Humane Society suggests making a donation to your local shelter (remembering the Idaho Humane Society, as well as shelters in Meridian and Canyon County, to name just a few of the local options). 

A year has passed since Boisean Terrance Fitzpatrick, who lived in local shelters, and on the streets, was found dead in a bale of paper from a local recycling center.

Investigators said Fitzpatrick, who had been drinking, was likely looking for a warm place to sleep. He climbed inside a recycling container, and was accidentally crushed.

Jane Freund, a member of the Capitol City Christian Church in Downtown Boise where Fitzpatrick was  also a member, said many in the congregation still miss Fitzpatrick.

The group, GECC for short, is a local non-profit organization committed to developing emergency care systems in developing countries where no such care exists.

The group’s pilot project was starting an emergency room in a rural hospital in Uganda where residents suffer from HIV/AIDS and a variety of tropical diseases. The ER opened in June of 2008, and the members of GECC developed a training program for local emergency care providers that’s now in use.

Boise State University’s Master of Fine Arts in creative writing program will host an evening with award-winning novelist, essayist and short story writer Pam Houston at 7:30 p.m. (6:30 p.m. doors) Wednesday, Nov. 11, at the Knitting Factory Concert House, 416 S. 9th St. in downtown Boise.

Tickets are $5 for students and $15 for the general public ($10 and $20 at the door), available in advance by e-mailing jacobpowers@boisestate.edu or through the Boise State English Department office in Room 228 of the Language Arts Building, 426-3426.   

Stand up for black dogs on Sunday

It’s a known thing — black dogs (and cats) are often overlooked, and are the last to get adopted from animal shelters. No one’s really sure why — whether it’s harder to take a good picture of a creature with black fur, or whether people think they’re meaner because of their color. Who knows? Whatever the reason, none of them is true.

CROP Walk update

Were you part of the recent local CROP Walks for hunger awareness in Ada and Canyon Counties? Just heard from Ted Wimer, organizer of the Boise walk. Wimer said about 350 walkers came to participate, from 20 different local churches and organizations.

Volunteer for the American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society is looking for volunteers to help with community outreach, educating local folks about free cancer programs available to patients and families.

Outreach includes sharing information on a range of resources. Training is provided.

Volunteers are needed to work in the Cancer Resource Center at Saint Alphonsus Cancer Care Center one day a week for approximately four hours.

For more information: Kerri at the American Cancer Society: 422-0846.

The annual event that matches teams of volunteers armed with muscle, with seniors and disabled residents who need help cleaning up their yards, needs you.

The rake up this year happens in Nampa on Saturday, Nov. 14.

October — harvest moon month, Halloween month, “autumn’s really here” month — is also proving to be a good month for Idaho women in the nonprofit world.

Because of all the families struggling economically in the Treasure Valley, the Idaho Foodbank is anticipating a big demand for turkeys this holiday season — a 30 percent increase in holiday food needs, in fact.

The bank staff is asking families in Ada, Canyon and Gem Counties to sign up for a turkey donation by the end of October at their nearest Foodbank partner food pantry.