Barb Ashmead and her team spend a lot of time and money making life better for local felines and they’re hoping other area residents will donate a little bit of time and, hopefully, a whole lot of money to help them out.
The spokesperson for Qualicum Cat Rescue said one of her group’s biggest fundraisers is coming up on Feb. 23 at the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre.
This year’s Qualicum Cat Rescue auction, she said, has seen local businesses and residents donating a wide variety of items for this eighth annual event.
“We have everything from a trip to Tofino to a piano,” Ashmead said. “We have Body Shop stuff, tools, small appliances and probably every type of gift basket you could want.”
The $40 ticket includes a sit-down dinner of either roast beef or vegetarian fare, she said, along with both a silent and live auction.
“All the money raised goes towards our projects,” she said. “We don’t have any employees, so every cent goes to the kittens.”
The money from last year’s auction helped pay for 277 kittens to be spayed or neutered, de-wormed and vaccinated.
“On top of that, we managed to give away 400 spay/neuter certificates,” Ashmead said. “That’s pretty good for a little grassroots organization like ours.”
The tickets always sell out, she added, so anyone who wants to attend should pick up a ticket at Qualicum Pet Foods soon.