My last blog entry was a great short story written by Kathy Brockway from the Meridian Valley Humane Society. Brockway told the tale of Morley, a dog hit by a car on Meridian Road, rescued, cared for and healed, thanks to financial donations in the memory of Sara "Rusty" Totorella. The dog's rehabilitation included the necessary amputation of one of his legs.

Totorella, an animal lover, had spent a lot of time with the dogs at the Meridian shelter before she died.

Shelter volunteer and animal advocate Kathy Brockway sends another happy dog story our way...and when is it not a good time to read a happy dog story? Here's Kathy's recent tale from the trenches:  

“Rusty” and “Morley”

By Kathy Brockway

When Sara "Rusty" Tortorella passed away on Dec. 22, 2010, City of Meridian employees, especially
those at the water treatment facility where she worked, wanted to do something special in her honor.

T o say Wilma Thode has had a run of bad luck lately doesn’t really begin to describe it.

According to Ralph Poore from the Idaho Youth Ranch, local volunteers really stepped up to treat the young residents at the Hays Shelter Home in Boise to a special dinner and magic show Christmas week. The home is one of the many projects of the Idaho Youth Ranch, whose programs support kids and families.

As they do each year, Ada County Paramedics put down the medical equipment for the day, and put on their Santa garb instead, to deliver presents to hospitalized kids on Christmas Eve morning. T

he Ada County Paramedics Association donated money for the annual project, with a little help from Barnes and Noble Booksellers that donated new books to accompany the gifts of toys for the kids, as well as their siblings at home.

Well done!

The Home Partnership Foundation is matching all donations that it receives by Dec. 31, 2010, up to $150,000. 

The North End Organic Nursery is coming through for you, providing free trees to people who can't afford one. The nursery, at 2350 Hill Rd., Boise, is open until 6 p.m., open Friday — Christmas Eve — until 3 p.m. Call 389-4769 for more.
 

The Coca-Cola Company has a new program that lets people donate their My Coke Rewards points to Toys for Tots, and kids across the U.S. Check it out online.

Also on the corporate front, Walmart is providing an opportunity for Boise-Nampa metro area "fans" to support their region to receive up to a $1 million grant for hunger relief this holiday season in a Facebook campaign.

Make a gift to the International Rescue Committee in honor of your friends or loved ones, and the IRC will send them a personalized card to tell them about your donation (donate by Dec. 15 to ensure delivery by Dec. 25).

Even better, if you donate between now and Dec. 31, your donation doubles thanks to friends of the IRC  who will match your donation dollar for dollar, up to $1.5 million. The matching funds will help refugees in communities across the globe.  

For the first time ever, donors can support the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign in the Treasure Valley directly through their mobile phones. In addition to its traditional ‘on-the-street’ red kettles, The Salvation Army has established a text-to-give program that works on all major mobile phone carriers within the United States, for people who want to make a $10 donation quickly and conveniently.