Feature Search

Enlisted Spouse’s Club lends a hand to four-legged neighbors

  • Published
  • By Airman Whitney Amstutz
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - --  Ten members of the Andersen Enlisted Spouse's Club loaded three shopping carts worth of food and supplies into a pick-up truck and headed over to Guam Animals In Need Sept. 21.

GAIN is a non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention of cruelty to animals and to the public education of matters pertaining to animals and their welfare. More than 5000 dogs, cats and rabbits pass through the gates of GAIN each year. The staff provides unconditional care and shelter to these strays in the hope that they will one day be adopted.

In early Sept., GAIN was robbed and more than 600 pounds of food and supplies were stolen. This loss left the shelter with a crippling shortage.

"This is the fourth break-in we have experienced," said Winnie Escobar, GAIN employee. "With the amount of animals we receive, a loss like this is severe. An average of 400 animals comes in each month and we were not sure if we would be able to support their needs."

When Enlisted Spouse Club members caught wind of this predicament, they took it upon themselves to raise funds to help replenish the supply.

"The club sponsored a kennel at GAIN last year," said Rachael Hoeffing, Enlisted Spouse Club publicist. "We had planned to raise money to sponsor the kennel again this year by hosting a bake sale. It just so happened that we heard about the robbery around the same time and the group voted to not only sponsor a kennel, but donate a portion of the proceeds to help GAIN get back on their feet."

Team Andersen did not disappoint and came out in force to support the Enlisted Spouse's Club mission.

"Normally at a bake sale we make somewhere around $500," Hoeffing said. "This time we raised an incredible $1,336. With that money we were able to sponsor the kennel and fill three shopping carts full of dog and cat food for GAIN."

In addition to the donations GAIN received from the Enlisted Spouse's Club, other groups and units throughout the base stepped up and made donations of their own. The shelter, which is now fully stocked, can resume its mission protecting and caring for those who cannot care for themselves.

"There are a lot of people who are more than happy to donate to a good cause," Hoeffing said. "We plan to make several more donations to GAIN throughout the year. After all, who doesn't love animals?