The German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County works tirelessly too find forever homes for Shepherds in need throughout the county. As an all-volunteer organization, with no paid staff or government funding, donations are critical for the organizations survival.

This holiday season, the GSROC hosted a Thanksgiving Fundraiser on the California State University Fullerton Campus called “Palms for Paws.” This special fundraiser was designed to remind all of us that it does not take much to make a big difference in a needy dogs life. “Palms for Paws” in fact collected only those small donations that one can literally fit in the palm of their hand, such as loose change or unused cell phones.

GSROC’s hope was that by collecting only small items, they could show everyone that even the seemingly smallest of gifts can greatly affect the life of a dog in danger. As GSROC volunteer JR De Los Reyes put it, “the message behind the event: ‘The small things that fit in the PALMS of our hands, can affect the PAWS in need.’”

Luckily for the GSROC, small donations do add up. Over the three days that the organization collected donations on the California State Fullerton Campus, they managed to raise $370. That is quite a lot of loose change.

Just before the Thanksgiving holiday, volunteers along with the gentlemen of the Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity, who worked closely with the organization on the Fullerton campus to help encourage donations, were able to present the German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County with a check for $370. The money will go directly to the care of the animals in the organizations care.

The organization is grateful to have the money, but they are even more excited about the message that the fundraiser was able to spread to the public. They hope that this event will encourage the community to rethink the usefulness of their small, unwanted items. The GSROC hopes that “Palms for Paws” has shown the public that even a small gift can go a long way toward saving the life of a dog in need. 

Images and Content courtesy of the German Shepherd Rescue Orange County