Impact Clay Train makes successful stop at Grove Park Elementary
ORANGE PARK – Last Saturday’s Impact Clay Train at Grove Park Elementary was so successful it needed 138 volunteers to serve 168 residents with mobile neighborhood care teams of healthcare professionals and community workers who play a role in improving healthcare and social services with positive outcomes by providing check-ups, showers, haircuts, food pantry, hot meal, nutrition, addiction support, mental health and health education to underserved areas of the county. The Train will make its next stop at Keystone Heights Junior/Senior High on April 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Clay Hill Elementary on May 18 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Springs Church Outreach made the Train a part of its Volunteer Day of Service. Also, the Rotary Club of Orange Park and the Orange Park Lions Club joined One Clay Schools, Director Laura Fogarty and Superintendent David Broskie.
Orange Park Lions Club heard the call for help from their fellow felines.
Safe Animal Shelter at 2913 County RD. 220 in Middleburg Florida once again put out the call for help for their influx of felines as well as needing help with their growing number of cute k-9s. Carl Crosby, Vicky Crosby, Kezia Check, Richard Cambell and Michael Poweleit from the Orange Park Lions Club heard the call! Over $400 worth of cat and kitten food, cat toys, litter, powder milk, dog food, dog treats, and blankets were brought in by the group of Lions from Orange Park to help with the always growing population of animals. Time was also spent at the shelter visiting workers and the animals. A group of kittens drew everyone’s attention. One special young black kitten was passed from Lion to Lion showing its feisty side. It wasn’t until it was handed to Kezia how gentle and loving it was. Kezia and this little one hit it right off! It was going to take a lot to get it from Kezia but that turned out not to be a problem. The next thing we knew Kezia was filling out adoption papers! Her recently acquired puppy now had a play mate! Her name is now “Matcha” like the tea because of the color of her beautiful eyes.
Safe Animal Shelter is the oldest no-kill shelter in Clay County. It receives no government funding and the homeless cats and dogs they take in, are provided quality care only through private donations. Their goal is to reduce the number of cats and dogs euthanized in Clay County and NE Florida. One of the programs they have it called “Cat Tales”. They are inviting young readers to come read with their kittens. Children in grades K-6 who can read at any level are invited to bring a book from home or the library and sit with the cats in the adoptive room. The program will help children improve their reading skills while also helping with the sheltered animals with socialization and human activity. The cats are nonjudgemental and server as a source of comfort for children as they learn. Having a playful, purring companion can make reading more fun! Children are awarded tickets and after five tickets they can be turned in for a reward. No appointment necessary.
All the great care the animals receive is all from community support. There are “wish lists” provided on Amazon and Chewy websites to order donations there or to get ideas of what to bring when you visit the lovely animals. All donations are appreciated and if you can’t help with food, or time, or money, or adoptions; there is a real need for foster homes for the adorable furry friends. Contact the shelter with any questions or for more information: (904) 375-9122 Hours Wednesday-Sunday Noon-5PM.
A quick update: the shelter recently won awards for Best of Clay 2024 as well as from the Clay Couty fair. As I left this wonderful place, I saw a beautiful sign which read “You can’t buy love but you can rescue it!” How True!
Lions Helping Lions and our Community...painting our hall!
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