Volunteers sell raffle basket tickets Dec. 12, 2020 in front of Choice Health on East Main Street to benefit the Westfield Homeless Cat Project. (ISABEL MARCHESELLI PHOTO)
Jewelry, raffle sales benefit Westfield Homeless Cat Project
By Isabel Marcheselli
Correspondent
WESTFIELD – The Westfield Homeless Cat Project is still collecting donations of new and gently used jewelry, handbags, scarves and other women’s accessories to be resold at Choice Health to help raise funds for cats in need during the cold weather season.
They are also asking for the following types of donations: cat food – especially Fancy Feast and Friskies, cat and shelter supplies such as litter, towels, blankets, household cleaners and paper products and monetary donations. Contributions can be dropped off and sent to the cat shelter, where cats can also be adopted, at 1224 East Mountain Road. Sueellen Duga, the owner of Choice Health at 307 East Main St. in Westfield, says that her desire to help support the Westfield Homeless Cat Project dates all the way back to her own volunteer work helping cats
“I personally have been working with the Project for approximately 12 years. I used to do the “manual labor” such as cleaning cages, cleaning the shelter and running the cats from vet to shelter and vice versa,” Duga said. “I also used to do a lot of feral trapping. But since I am a lot older now and own Choice Health, I felt I could still service the charity by raising money in any way possible.”
Duga thought outside the box for the jewelry sale.
Raffle baskets, ranging in value from $15-$25, are being sold to benefit the Westfield Homeless Cat Project. (ISABEL MARCHESELLI PHOTO)
“Since we had room at the front of our store, I offered the space to put donated fashion accessories and some miscellaneous articles in that space for no remuneration,” she said “Any money raised from the sale of these items goes directly to the shelter. People who come into the store shopping for nutritional needs find it interesting and fun to shop our ‘Awesome Pawsome Kitty Bazaar’ as we so named it.”
This past Saturday, volunteers from the shelter stood outside Choice Health for hours in the rain to sell gift baskets to help raise funds. Made by fellow volunteers, the gift basket values range anywhere from $15-$25 and include items such as hot chocolate, edible treats and other goods. One of the volunteers there, Mary Prajzner, has been dedicatedly helping the shelter for 14 years and said of the gift baskets have a dual purpose.
“It’s the gift that gives twice — all the proceeds go to the kitties in the shelter. This is the only fundraiser that we have this year, so please help,” she said.
The cat shelter has adjusted its adoption clinic hours to the following: Thursdays from 5 – 7:00 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 1 – 3 p.m. Safety protocols followed include facial coverings and hand sanitization. Donations can also be made to the project by designating the Westfield Homeless Cat Project as your AmazonSmile recipient for every purchase made on Amazon.
To make a donation or buy a gift basket, contact the Westfield Homeless Cat Project’s founder, Denise Sinico, at 413-568-6964.
