Conway Area Humane Society seeks $250,000 to build [04/06/2002]

Fundraising events include Bingo marathon

"We've raised over a million dollars and people see that and are impressed and those business who haven't gotten involved yet are starting to come on board," Roz Manwaring, executive director of Conway Area Humane Society said Friday as she announced plans for a couple of fund-raisers and gave an update on the shelter project."CAHS is hard at work raising the funds necessary to build the animal resource center planned for 25 glorious acres in Conway Village," she said. "Two recent grant awards, Red Acre Farm and The Meacham Foundation Memorial from the American Humane Association, have moved the total well over the million-dollar mark, $1,027,630. These two awards plus many individual gifts have the organization well over the halfway point to the challenge grant from the Ham Charitable Foundation. Let's meet this challenge and move on to the next."Manwaring was at American Legion Post 46 Friday morning on Tasker Hill Road, where she revealed the Legion will host Marathon Bingo on April 2O, with all profits going to the humane society. "This will be a fast-paced day of bingo, door prizes, food and fun," she said. "Thanks to over 100 generous sponsors this will be an exciting event, eight hours of bingo! There will be two four-hour sessions of bingo, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 to 8 p.m. Bingo packages are $30 for each session and include a door prize ticket. Wonderful food from super sponsors will be available at each half-hour break. Seating is limited and one must be 18 to play."Manwaring also announced a "Stupendous Raffle" will be ongoing for the next two months with the drawing at The Flatbread Company on May 28. The Flatbread Company, located in Eastern Slope Inn, offers local non-profits the chance to fund-raise on Tuesdays. The humane society will receive $2.50 for every flatbread sold that day. So, the drawing will be at 7:30 that evening. "We'll have great food, special prizes, and raffle drawing," Manwaring said. "And, what raffle prizes a week's vacation anywhere in the world thanks to The Eastern Slope Inn Resort, a 3-hour gift certificate for The Last Call Band to play at your summer party, wedding, in your living room,four two-night stays at Luxury Mountain Getaways two-bedroom suite, a gorgeous area room-size rug from Chick Home Center, and the list goes on. Twelve valuable prizes will be picked that night. Tickets are available at all Berlin City Bank branches, Four Your Paws Only and The Scarecrow Pub.""We're moving ever closer to the goal and the start of construction of this exciting new community center," she said. "With the continued support of the community the funds needed will soon be in hand ($250,00 more) and construction can begin. The time is now to join in, help the CAHS meet the Ham Foundation challenge, help raise the roof of a most amazing animal resource center which will offer innovative educational and social programs to the community as well as give hope to families in crisis by helping their companion animals.Conway Area Humane Society anticipates placing more than 1,000 homeless dogs and cats each year in Mount Washington Valley, which currently has no animal shelter dedicated to the long-term needs of pets who are abandoned, abused or owner-surrendered. The project is unique, in that it has a significant number of planned programs for the animals' human counterparts, including the victims of domestic violence and people undergoing emergency medical care. The Maurice and Paula Lovejoy Learning Center is at the heart of the new community center, and is committed to help break the cycles of abuse (child and animal), cruelty and pet overpopulation. The local humane society plans to help finance its operations through a boarding kennel on the site, an innovative concept for a non-profit shelter. Future plans and dreams include a dog park, spay mobile, and a hospice house (for humans)."The sky is truly the limit," Manwaring said.To learn more about the project and its services, visit the organization's web site at www.conwayshelter.org.