Community Chest Spotlight: MARC
The 2021-22 Sewanee Community Chest Fund Drive is underway. Sponsored by the Sewanee Civic Association, the Sewanee Community Chest raises money yearly for local charitable organizations serving the area. This year’s goal of $102,291 will help 20 organizations that have requested basic needs funding for quality of life, community aid, children’s programs, and those who are beyond Sewanee but still serve our entire community.
This week we shine the spotlight on the Marion Animal Resource Connection, MARC.
MARC’s mission is to improve the lives of animals through spay/neuter, humane education, and rescue/rehoming. 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 begin decreasing the number of unwanted and costly litters. MARC works with county and town governments to prevent needless killing of impounded dogs and cats. MARC works with individuals and other animal groups to try to find good homes for unwanted dogs and cats.
MARC responds to requests for help from people in Marion and its surrounding counties of Grundy, bordering areas of Franklin, Sequatchie, and bordering areas of Georgia and Alabama. Clients include those that find, help, or are concerned about the many animals dumped, abused, or neglected. Animals in need do not know boundaries and move from one area to another on their own, or are dumped by people. In 2020, MARC served approximately 1,354 dogs and cats; more than 2,080 animals were spayed or neutered; 953 rescued animals were matched with families and rehomed; and 2,355 students were taught about humane care of animals.
MARC will receive $7,000 in general operating support in the Beyond Sewanee funding area. MARC’s goal for the use of the grant is to spay and neuter more dogs and cats (average $70 per animal), to get them ready for adoption, or to help people keep their pets without contributing to the proliferation of unwanted animals. In addition, the money will be used to pay some of the heartworm treatments (estimate $300–$500 for each animal) and necessary surgeries (estimate $300–$1,500 for each animal.) MARC is not a shelter. They can only save the number of animals for which they have foster homes. MARC is a resource to help residents find safe places for stray, dumped, and unwanted animals. Residents who call MARC for help are encouraged to foster the animals, while MARC works to find adoptive and loving homes.
Since 1908, the goal of the Sewanee Community Chest has been to help citizens by funding the community. With Community Chest donations, local organizations provide for basic needs such as books, food, animal care, housing, scholarships, recreational spaces, elder care, children’s educational needs and more. The Sewanee Community Chest 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.
