Support a cause I'm proud of

I’ve worked at Heartland for nearly 5 years now, but this is the first time I’ve participated in their peer-to-peer fundraising. While I’ve always believed in the mission, I am more proud today than I’ve ever been to be a part of what I call the ‘little shelter that could’.

Heartland was the first job I ever had that felt like more than a check to pay the bills. That connection to a higher cause, to believing I was supporting not just animals, but people, every day that I showed up for work, has kept me with them throughout the incredibly hard year that COVID wrought. This time last year, one half of my coworkers were laid off. Heartland went into survival mode, not just because economic uncertainty crippled fundraising, but because 1/3 of our budget is provided by our thrift shop. Run by volunteers, mostly in the high risk category, it was forced to close at the beginning of the pandemic. While it is open today, we’re still seeing the loss of income and challenges that all small businesses are facing.

But today, despite the hardships, things are moving towards stability. We’ve been able to hire back nearly all of our staff, and are looking towards growth for the future. I’m delighted to share that my new boss shares our values and vision for what our place in the industry will be: providing access to animal welfare services by supporting families and pets in the home, and preventing animals from entering the shelter system. Measuring our success by lives touched instead of intake numbers. That said, we’re still rebuilding from the loss of funds during the pandemic, and we need help to make that vision a reality.

Heartland is where I met the love of my life, Ruby. That little dog has been my reason to get out of bed when depression hits and my constant companion. She is my daily joy. In honor of that tiny bad dog, and in honor of my hard work this last 5 years, I’m asking you, my loved ones and family, to make a donation to Heartland today.

Sincerely,

Hannah