Airmen donate to local shelter

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Camilla Elizeu
  • 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz., --  The Career Development Center is holding an in-house pet supply donation for the Pima Animal Care Center.

During an office pow-wow, leadership and their Airmen brainstormed ways they could give back to the community. They came up with volunteering with a local shelter.

Everyone attended a volunteering briefing.

After volunteering a few times the Airmen noticed a sudden jump in lost and stray animals in the shelter.

"We noticed a lot of pets coming in at the beginning of July and asked the employees at the shelter about it," said Technical Sgt. Michelle Klemisch, 355th Force Support Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of career development. "That's when they advised us that during the Fourth of July a lot of animals get so scared of the noise and the sudden brightness that they run off and get lost."

After a couple more sessions of volunteering at the shelter, the Airmen decided to donate items. Little by little, people have been piling items up in the office.

"We are donating anything that can come in handy," Klemisch said. "We have collected pet food, blankets, towels, toys, pretty much anything except rawhide items."

The shop starts collecting items early July and will be delivering their donations at the end of August.

The donation pile is by the front of the office where customers can see it and contribute if they would like.

"We have had people ask us about it, and we explain to them why we are collecting these items," Klemisch said. "Some have come back to contribute donations."

The process has been going smoothly for the Career Development Center.

"We haven't had any problems with this project," Klemisch said. "Everyone on the team is really excited to be a part of it, and everyone has brought something to the table."