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Craig business offers fundraising opportunity to local groups

Bridget Manley

Ann Anderson and Carol Scott, Humane Society of Moffat County vice president and treasurer, respectively, were ready to wrap Tuesday afternoon.

Anderson and Scott wore white aprons that read “Santa’s Shelter Helper” as they stood near a table set up in Murdoch’s Ranch & Home Supply in Craig. Rolls of wrapping paper waited on a dispenser nearby.

Last year, the Humane Society raised about $300 in donations by offering to wrap customers’ gifts.



The group doesn’t have a fundraising goal this year, Scott said.

Nevertheless, “Donations are just always appreciated,” she added. “Every little bit helps.”



The Humane Society was one of several local organizations that have signed up for gift-wrapping duty at Murdoch’s this Christmas season.

Since the week after Thanksgiving, the store has allowed local groups and nonprofits to raise funds by temporarily manning its gift-wrapping station. So far, the Humane Society, 4-H, Girl Scouts and Special Olympics, among other organizations, have taken advantage of the gift-wrapping program.

Store employees have created a schedule that staffs the gift-wrapping station during peak business hours from 4 to 7 p.m. Recently, though, some groups have come in at noon to meet the needs of last-minute shoppers.

Murdoch’s supplies wrapping paper, tape, bows, boxes and other materials the groups might need.

That way, “there’s no out-of-pocket (expenses) for these guys,” said Lisa French, Murdoch’s bookkeeper and employee in charge of the program.

Customers are encouraged to leave donations in exchange for the service.

From French’s view, local nonprofits participating in the program stand to benefit from Craig’s generosity

“This town is a very giving town,” she said.

Humane Society officials don’t plan to earmark fundraiser proceeds for any particular purpose.

Instead, they will deposit the funds into an account that supports various activities, including a transfer program that takes unwanted animals from Moffat County to Colorado shelters. Transporting animals from Craig to other areas of the state consumes a majority of the fund, Scott said.

Added funds could come in handy this year as the Humane Society faces a growing problem.

“We had a great need this year with stray cats,” Scott said. “We had a lot go into foster care, and we support that (program) financially.”

She appreciates the leg up Murdoch’s has offered to local groups.

“Murdoch’s is really supportive of a lot of nonprofits in the community, particularly (the Humane Society) and youth programs. : We really appreciate this opportunity.”

But, running the gift-wrapping station, which is otherwise manned by Murdoch’s employees, is about more than collecting money. Wrapping gifts at the store also gives the Humane Society exposure to the community, “which we’re always trying to do, regardless of what we’re participating in,” Scott said.

“It’s always nice to just get to visit with people,” she added. “They have questions about our group or things that we do.

“Sometimes we get to hear stories about their animals.”

Finally, the fundraiser gives members of the Humane Society and other groups the chance to interact with fellow residents.

“You just visit with people,” she said. “Everybody’s in pretty good spirits, since it’s the holidays.”


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