An animal shelter in Schuylkill County may be facing its final days due to a lack of funding.
Leadership at Ruth Steinert Memorial SPCA say they need a “guardian angel right now” to keep their doors open. They say the shelter is “facing an unprecedented financial crisis.”
Earlier this month, the shelter sent an appeal to supporters indicating that its final days are near if it can’t get more financial support from the community.
Ruth Steinert Memorial SPCA is a no-kill shelter and as such, they say, it receives no government funding. Instead, it relies solely on community donations.
Well, those donations are significantly less than they’ve been in the past. The lack of donations has come at a bad time. The shelter says it’s currently facing increasing costs for supplies, medical treatments, and maintenance.
That’s why shelter staff are asking for that guardian angel.
“I know those people are out there and I truly hope they find it in their hearts to provide the financial support we need right now to continue our mission, keep the lights on, and our doors open,” Shannon Shuttlesworth, of Ruth Steinert Memorial SPCA says.
Shuttlesworth says there is reason for hope, but not without an infusion of donation money.
“Our shelter, like many others across the country, really began to struggle at the tail end of the COVID pandemic in 2022. I believe a large membership change in the board of directors directly following that time period may have also been a contributing factor which left them ill-equipped to handle the many new financial challenges the shelter faced despite their best efforts.
“When the now current board of directors was instated at the beginning of last year (2024), the shelter had only enough funds to keep the doors open for a couple of months,” Shuttlesworth says. “With the help of our supporters, the blood and sweat of our employees, and with new board direction, we were able to continue to keep the doors open for the remainder of the year.”
Here is the text of the appeal sent to supporters back on Jan. 5:
Ruth Steinert Memorial SPCA
18 Wertz Dr., Pine Grove, PA 17963
Phone: 570-345-3540
Email: rsmspca17963@gmail.com
Website: www.rsmspca.org
Urgent Appeal for Support
Help Us Save Our Animal Shelter
January 5, 2025
Dear Friends and Supporters,
I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to you today with a heavy heart and a sincere plea for assistance. As a valued supporter of our animal shelter, you have played a crucial role in our mission to provide a safe haven for countless abandoned, neglected, and abused animals. It is because of your generosity and compassion that we have been able to continue our work for over two decades and make a difference in the lives of so many animals in need.
However, I must share some troubling news with you. Our shelter is currently facing an unprecedented financial crisis. The recent increase in costs for essential supplies, medical treatments, and facility maintenance, combined with a significant decrease in donations, have severely impacted our funding sources. Additionally, the broader economic challenges have placed a strain on many of our supporters, making it more difficult for them to contribute as much as they have in the past. We are now in danger of closing our doors for good. Without immediate financial support, we will no longer be able to provide the essential care and services that our animals depend on. As a no-kill animal shelter, we receive zero government funding and rely solely on the generosity of our community and the dedication of our volunteers and supporters.
Our shelter has always been a place of hope and healing. We have rescued animals from dire situations, provided them with medical care, and found them loving forever homes. Each animal that comes through our doors has a unique story, and it is our mission to ensure that their stories have happy endings. The thought of having to turn away animals in need because we lack the resources to care for them is heartbreaking.
We are reaching out to you, our dedicated supporters, to ask for your help in this critical time. Your donation, no matter how big or small, will make a significant difference in our ability to continue our work. Here are some of the ways your contribution can help:
$50: Provides food and basic care for one animal for a week.
$100: Covers the cost of necessary vaccinations and medical check-ups.
$250: Supports emergency medical treatments and surgeries for injured animals.
$500: Helps us maintain our shelter facilities and ensure a safe environment for the animals.
$1,000: Contributes to our adoption programs and outreach efforts to find loving homes for our animals.
Every dollar counts, and your support will directly impact the lives of the animals we care for. In addition to making a one-time donation, we kindly ask you to consider becoming a monthly donor. Regular contributions provide us with a stable and reliable source of income, allowing us to plan and allocate resources more effectively.
We understand that these are challenging times for everyone, and we are deeply grateful for any support you can provide. Your kindness and generosity have always been the backbone of our shelter, and we are confident that, with your help, we can overcome this crisis and continue our vital work.
To make a donation, please visit our GoFundMe website at https://gofund.me/b548e81d or send a check to PO Box 332, Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972. If you have any questions or would like to discuss other ways to support our shelter, please do not hesitate to contact us by phone or email.
Thank you for your continued support and for standing with us during this difficult time. Together, we can ensure that our shelter remains a place of refuge and hope for animals in need.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Ruth Steinert Memorial Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
P.S. Please share this letter with your friends and family. The more people we can reach, the greater our chances of saving our shelter and continuing our mission to help animals in need. Thank you.
To contribute to Ruth Steinert Memorial SPCA, visit this GoFundMe page: https://gofund.me/b548e81d
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