Fundraising events and food donations are often in the spotlight as the saving graces of the Animal Welfare League of Queensland, but behind the scenes many Gold Coast businesses are helping stray and abandoned pets find their “forever homes’.
There are over 600 donation boxes located in companies across the city, which raise much-needed funds for the shelter. These businesses are the AWLQ’s unsung heroes – they truly are our ‘shelter saviours’.
While AWLQ is greatly appreciative of all donations, great and small, local attraction Outback Spectacular has recently raised an impressive $3472, which will go towards caring for and the rehoming of the current animals who call the AWL home.
The crew at the Empire Fitness Centre in Arundel are proud lovers of the furry kind and have been supporting AWLQ for five years, raising $3022.05 in this time.
Empire Fitness Manager Joanna Hamalainen says there team love animals and do what they can for the AWLQ.
“We are all animal lovers here – we all bring our own dogs into work. Animals are such beautiful, helpless little creatures and our customers are more than happy to pop their loose change into the donation box,”
“If a staff member requests no presents for their birthday we donate the money we would’ve spent to the shelter,” Ms. Hamalainen said.
The owners of Ashanti Furniture and Design in Burleigh Heads are animal lovers through and through and have helped raise $2911.25. They have even taken their fundraising efforts a step further by donating all their takings from customer coffees each weekend.
“We are big believers in animals and will always help them because sadly they cannot help themselves,” said owner, Tracey Takacs-Thorne.
“We often have our furry kids (three dogs) come into work with us and as a result we now have a number of regulars who visit purely to give them a pat and a cuddle. They’ve attracted a ‘doggie following’, which in turn is great for the collection box.”
Animal Welfare League Marketing Manager Brooke Whitney says donation boxes are hugely important to the charity and they are always looking for local businesses to have a collection box at their counter.
“The AWLQ is forever grateful to the businesses that support us. We could not continue to carry on our important work without the humbling support we receive from the community,”Ms. Whitney said.
If you own a business and would like to support a donation box, register your interest by calling 0755099000
