Belchertown Board of Selectmen 01-11-2016 from BCTV Belchertown MA on Vimeo.
Belchertown Board of Selectmen 01-25-2016 from BCTV Belchertown MA on Vimeo.
Belchertown residents unanimously vote YES!
Belchertown Special Town Meeting from BCTV Belchertown MA on Vimeo.
Belchertown Annual Town Meeting 05-09-2016 from BCTV Belchertown MA on Vimeo.
Belchertown Town Talk BARC 06-30-2016 from BCTV Belchertown MA on Vimeo.
Untitled from Jenny Franz on Vimeo.
BELCHERTOWN, Mass. – In support of building the new Belchertown Animal Control facility on George Hannum Street, BARC (Belchertown Animal Relief Committee) is in the midst of a major fundraising campaign. The nonprofit organization, which received the 2015 Volunteer of the Year award, has already raised more than $40,000 for the new building. The building project, run by the town of Belchertown, started with $90,000 from the town and $10,000 from BARC. Since then, BARC has embarked on a capital campaign to raise the remainder needed to complete the project. The campaign goal is $75,000, of which $30,000 has already been raised! The group will rely on various fundraisers to bring in the remaining $45,000. Supporters can also donate online by visiting www.barcfriends.com.
The current Animal Control Center on Jackson Street, which was inspected in November 2014, was deemed unfit and was slated to be condemned. “With the number of animals needing assistance in the town, this would have forced residents to travel to Springfield to retrieve their pets,” said BARC President Jennifer Franz.
The new facility will include indoor and outdoor dog kennels, a cat colony room, a grooming room, a food pantry, an outdoor play area, a garage, the Animal Control Officer’s office, outdoor benches, a cat condo and a quarantine room.
Although the remaining amount needed to complete the project is $45,000, the amount needed to move into the facility is about $10,000. “This along with the $30,000 already raised would cover the cost of painting, indoor dog kennels, outdoor dog kennels and outdoor fencing,” Franz shared.
BARC credit’s community fundraisers for how far they’ve come and are hopeful supporters will help them to the home stretch. “We just had the Roses for Rescue event hosted by Otto Florists & Gifts in Ware, which was very successful,” said Franz.
Upcoming events include the annual Belchertown Fair Sept. 23-25, where supporters can purchase long sleeve T-shirts, sweatshirts, Frisbees and our famous handmade dog toys at the BARC booth, and a Belchertown Cruisers BARC Fundraiser (with prizes and raffles) Oct. 2 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Cindy’s Drive-In in Granby, Mass.
“We are also participating in the Palmer Pumpkin Palooza Oct. 15, and the Belchertown Animal Control is hosting a BARC Howl-o-ween Dog Walk and Dog Costume Contest on Oct. 29,” Franz said. “We love being part of the community and meeting all of our supporters at our events,” said Franz.
Belchertown Animal Relief Committee (BARC), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, seeks to provide local educational programs and services to create awareness around animal care, disease and cruelty issues. BARC will supply the funds needed to build a new and innovative Belchertown Animal Control Facility and will give supplemental assistance to help cover any deficit beyond the town budget. To learn more, visit www.barcfriends.com.
Belchertown Fair Interview 09-25-2016 from BCTV Belchertown MA on Vimeo.