Steinbach and Area Animal Rescue’s (SAAR) mission is to find homes for abandoned and homeless animals. Since 2013, they have served communities across the southeast and ensured care for vulnerable animals.
SAAR will be tomorrow’s recipient of the funds raised through the Taste of Summer Charity Barbecue on Wednesday, August 2. While a minimum of a two-dollar donation is required for the hotdog lunch, attendees are encouraged to donate more to charity. The lunch includes a smokie, condiments, a bag of chips and a bottle of water.
Vice President Graham Pollock says they are operating from people’s homes and without a permanent location, which they have had to navigate over the years.
It was recently announced they would receive $225,000 from provincial funding to support the cost of a building.
“It's going to allow us to move forward, probably a little easier knowing that we have that financial support there,” Pollock says.
However, he adds there are more additional costs that come with the mission to serve the community and animals.
“In 2022, our vetting costs alone were over $90,000, so events like this and the other fundraisers that we do throughout the year, they help us with these daily financials that we have to do just like all other businesses do,”
With all the costs that come with growth and continued operations, Pollock shares his excitement for being a recipient of Wednesday’s charity barbecue.
“Come out and have lunch with us. It's going to be great. I think we're going to have some of the animals there with us, you can hold the kitten if you want and pat a dog or whatever,” he says.
For the rest of the Wednesdays in August, the Taste of Summer Charity Barbecue is held at the Steinbach Credit Union, on the corner of Main and Lumber. Community members are invited from 11 AM to 1 PM, or until supplies last, to have lunch and support local charities and their missions.
With files from Corny Rempel.