A Mullica Hill-based community service club has been working throughout the county and South Jersey in the past four years to provide resources and assistance to rescues and animal shelters.
The Helping Paws 4-H Community Service club was created through the idea of founder Kathlyn Lawrence wanting to help animals, but aging out of the existing Gloucester County 4H association. Her mom, Kathy Daws-Lawrence, is the leader of the club, Kathlyn is the co-leader.
Lawrence was previously deeply invested in the county’s 4-H association’s mission to promote the conservation of animals’ habitat and overall welfare, and wanted to continue with it past her 18th birthday.
“[The members] decide what events they want to work on throughout the year, what fundraisers they want to do, what items they want to donate or raise funds for,” Daws-Lawrence said.
The 11-member club has previously done fundraisers for U.S. military dogs and their equipment, Marine Mammal Stranding Center, toys for a zoo, pet oxygen mask kits for several Gloucester County fire departments and household collection drives, to name a few.
“A lot of members are looking into veterinary or zookeeping, and you need the experience to get into a good program so this helps with that,” said Lawrence.
The two say their group is the only 4H community service organization in the world, which has gain them attention from other associations across the country to figure out how to start a similar program.
The duo utilizes many of the existing 4H events to try to gain interest from the public about the club and to eventually grow the membership.
“We only meet once or twice a month and they meet for two hours,” said Daws-Lawrence. “We do an activity at the meetings and they can take some time to finish.”
The activities members take part in include creating pet-safe toys to go in the shelters, creating items to sell to the public to raise money for shelters and rescues, or to brainstorm for the next fundraising opportunity.
The younger Lawrence added the club hosts contests for the community to also spread word about the club. Two of their upcoming contests will be at the 4H Fair from July 25 to the 28.
On July 26, the club is hosting a rock and shell decorating contest open to kids and adults. The decorations have to be related to an animal. Entries are judged against others in their age group (kindergarteners to third-graders, fourth through seventh, eighth through 12th and adults).
On July 28, an animal art show will take place and items can be entered in photography, visual arts or crafts. Artwork can be of an animal, or through someone’s imagination of an animal (accompanied by a description). Entries are judged in the same age category as above.
Entry fee for both is $1.
Despite their aggressive efforts to spread interest about the club, the elder Lawrence said membership is restricted to fewer than 15 members as they meet in her home, along with the members’ parents. She, however, said people are welcomed to volunteer with the club in many of its events for service hours.
Lawrence added the club will often collaborate with other organizations to hold joint fundraisers.
“We’ll go to events such as Paws for Art at Wheaton Arts, and Cumberland County groups will come out to let us know how cool the group is and request to share contact information,” she said.
With nearly every fundraiser the club holds, members visit the rescues or shelters they’re benefiting to hand-deliver items and to learn about their impact on the entity.
“You can raise all of the money in the world, but if you aren’t there to see the results, you’re only going to get 50 percent of the picture,” said Daws-Lawrence. “When the members make or collect items, they go to the facility and learn about it and the cause they’re helping out, which makes it so much more rewarding.”
To donate or volunteer with the club, visit www.Facebook.com/GCHP4H.
