She had just heard her organization, the Cobequid Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, announced as the latest recipient of the 100+ Women Who Care Truro donation.
Her eyes almost popped out of her head, then she threw her hands to her sides before clasping them together in pure joy.
“I’m very excited,” said Van Doninck, who co-founded the centre with her husband, Murdo Messer, 15 years ago. “I didn’t think we had a shot. But this is perfect timing with our new build. We had enough to cover the building, but we figured we’d have to fundraise gradually to equip it.”
Members of 100+ Women Who Care Truro gathered at the Holiday Inn Truro Tuesday to hear pitches from Diane Standing of the Colchester Community Workshops Foundation, Kim Elliott of Institute of Human Services Education, and Van Doninck, before casting their vote. Those in attendance donated $13,800 to the centre.
During her five-minute speech, Van Doninck explained the centre sees about 300 injured and orphaned birds, small animals and other wildlife each year. The centre also runs educational programs throughout the community and in schools, and operates on a dedicated volunteer base.
This money, she said, would help equip a building currently under construction that will act as a nursery for incoming animals.
“That building, as you know, was the result of an online contest, but we need funds to equip it.”
The money will go toward the purchase of an incubator to help keep baby birds warm, a walk-in freezer to store the feed supply, and a back up generator, which is needed in Nova Scotia winters.
“With this money, we know we will have enough for those items and more. We’ll be able to outfit our new building,” she said.
Prior to introducing the first pitch, Cindie Smith and Sylvia Estey, co-chairwomen of 100+ Women Who Care Truro, said there are about 450 women involved – 71 as individuals and more than 110 teams. They’re hoping those members not in attendance Tuesday will honour their commitment and submit their donation to the Cobequid Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. In doing so, that $13,800 would increase to about $17,000.
The next gathering of 100+ Women Who Care Truro will be Dec. 1 at the First United Church. Presenters that evening will be the Colchester Stroke Club, Central Nova Women’s Resource Centre and Victoria Order of Nurses.
Twitter: @TDNRaissa
She had just heard her organization, the Cobequid Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, announced as the latest recipient of the 100+ Women Who Care Truro donation.
Her eyes almost popped out of her head, then she threw her hands to her sides before clasping them together in pure joy.
“I’m very excited,” said Van Doninck, who co-founded the centre with her husband, Murdo Messer, 15 years ago. “I didn’t think we had a shot. But this is perfect timing with our new build. We had enough to cover the building, but we figured we’d have to fundraise gradually to equip it.”
Members of 100+ Women Who Care Truro gathered at the Holiday Inn Truro Tuesday to hear pitches from Diane Standing of the Colchester Community Workshops Foundation, Kim Elliott of Institute of Human Services Education, and Van Doninck, before casting their vote. Those in attendance donated $13,800 to the centre.
During her five-minute speech, Van Doninck explained the centre sees about 300 injured and orphaned birds, small animals and other wildlife each year. The centre also runs educational programs throughout the community and in schools, and operates on a dedicated volunteer base.
This money, she said, would help equip a building currently under construction that will act as a nursery for incoming animals.
“That building, as you know, was the result of an online contest, but we need funds to equip it.”
The money will go toward the purchase of an incubator to help keep baby birds warm, a walk-in freezer to store the feed supply, and a back up generator, which is needed in Nova Scotia winters.
“With this money, we know we will have enough for those items and more. We’ll be able to outfit our new building,” she said.
Prior to introducing the first pitch, Cindie Smith and Sylvia Estey, co-chairwomen of 100+ Women Who Care Truro, said there are about 450 women involved – 71 as individuals and more than 110 teams. They’re hoping those members not in attendance Tuesday will honour their commitment and submit their donation to the Cobequid Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. In doing so, that $13,800 would increase to about $17,000.
The next gathering of 100+ Women Who Care Truro will be Dec. 1 at the First United Church. Presenters that evening will be the Colchester Stroke Club, Central Nova Women’s Resource Centre and Victoria Order of Nurses.
Twitter: @TDNRaissa
