All the animals want for Christmas is a new barn.
Actually, it’s going to take a while before that wish comes true for the Rescue and Sanctuary for Threatened Animals residents in Chemainus, but they’re hoping a holiday gift idea will go a long way toward making that happen sooner rather than later.
RASTA founder Lucie Cerny estimates a new barn at the Chemainus Road facility will cost about $100,000 and funds are in place so far to cover about one-quarter of the cost.
Unfortunately, the Dixie For RASTA fundraiser in October for the barn project fell well short of its $10,000 goal, with proceeds only reaching $5,000.
As part of the pitch to rejuvenate fundraising and get the money required to build the barn as soon as possible, RASTA is launching a campaign to sell 2019 calendars that are hot off the presses.
“This is the first time in over 10 years that RASTA has created calendars so it’s a pretty exciting project for us,” noted Cerny, whose facility was previously located south of Calgary before moving to Chemainus in 2015. “A tremendous amount of time and love has gone into creating these beauties and we truly couldn’t be more happy with how they turned out. We can honestly say that they’re a true work of art.”
The hard work of volunteers, including photographers Terry Oh and Praveen Ponraj, made the calendar project happen.
“They’ve been distributed throughout a number of supportive businesses across the Island, and even in Vancouver, and are now ready for sale just in time for Christmas,” pointed out Cerny.
The supply is limited. Calendars are available for $20 apiece in Chemainus at the Chemainus Health Food Store, Gifts ‘N’ Things, Bound to be Different, Urban Legends Salon and Spa, Leaf Compassion and Pharmasave; in Crofton at the Beehive Hair Studio and Crofton Shop & Wash; in Ladysmith at Salamander Books; and in Duncan at Cafe la Vie, Chariteas, Duncan Garage Cafe and Bakery, Buckerfield’s and Top Shelf Feeds.
Cerny reserved special thanks to the many wonderful business sponsors for supporting the project and the photographers for lending their talents to create some wonderful images of the animals.
“It’s a great way to get the word out about RASTA and it makes a great Christmas gift,” she enthused.
Meanwhile, a great gift has been received by one of the sanctuary’s biggest supporters, agreeing to match all Christmas donations up to $5,000.
That means all donations from now until Christmas will be doubled.
“That’s enabling us to raise twice as much money and get us that much closer to building our much-needed barn,” enthused Cerny. “There’s truly no better time to donate than now, knowing that your donation will be doubled.”
Tax deductible Christmas donations can be made through the RASTA Sanctuary website at www.RastaRescue.org or by clicking donate on its Facebook page.
The RASTA Sanctuary offers a lifelong safe haven for numerous farm and domestic animals that would otherwise have nowhere to go.
