Community Chest Spotlight: MARC
The 2016–17 Sewanee Community Chest (SCC) Fund Drive is underway. Sponsored by the Sewanee Civic Association, the SCC raises money yearly for local charitable organizations serving the area. This year’s goal is $116,850.
The Marion Animal Resource Connection (MARC) is a new applicant to the Sewanee Community Chest. MARC is a 501(c)(3) organization created to assist people and animals to live more humanely in Marion County and to help ease the social burden of too many stray dogs and cats. MARC also provides help to Franklin and Grundy counties and other surrounding areas. Through its directors and volunteers, MARC provides education for children and adults about humane care and treatment of animals. MARC connects people with affordable spay/ neuter procedures to help decrease the number of unwanted and costly litt ers. MARC works with county and town governments to prevent the needless killing of impounded dogs and cats. MARC also works with individuals and other animal groups to try and find good homes for the animals.
From January through July 2016, 964 animals were helped, including help with spay and neuter costs for low-income families and admissions for rehoming. MARC is not a shelter. MARC can save only the number of animals for which their are foster homes. MARC is a resource to help area residents find safe places for strays, dumped and unwanted animals. Residents who call MARC for help will be encouraged to foster the animals, while MARC works to find a place to relocate the animals.
MARC is requesting $10,000 to help offset the costs of spaying and neutering, vett ing and rehoming animals from Sewanee and surrounding areas of Franklin, Grundy and Marion counties. The average cost for one animal to be spayed/neutered, receive heartworm treatments, vetting and annual shots averages $940. Additional costs include fuel used to run two vans to six different low cost spay/neuter clinics, and to transport animals to be rehomed with animal groups in the northern USA for those animals that cannot find homes in the south.
Since 1908, the goal of the SCC has been to help citizens by funding the community. Through SCC funding, 26 local organizations can help those caught in the cycle of poverty, improve quality of life through outreach and community initiatives, and provide support for children with a variety of programs. The SCC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and donations are tax deductible. Send your donation to Sewanee Community Chest, P.O. Box 99, Sewanee, TN 37375.
