Volunteer Spotlight:
Pam Jasinskas

“Volunteering for the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City was on my ‘want to do’ list after I stopped teaching, which was in May of 2008,” said Pam Jasinskas, all-star volunteer and animal lover. “I would only want to volunteer for a “no kill” shelter,” Pam noted. “And, this is the only pet welfare organization where I volunteer.”

Pam is one of our most dedicated volunteers and comes every Thursday to help with whatever the shelter needs help with. Being a life-long pet owner, Pam admits that, “I always loved animals and have had pets all my life. It was a given in my family.” And, as a self-confessed beagle lover, she has one thing to say about her fascination: “I think they are absolutely the best!”

Pam currently has two dogs at home, a 12 year old Beagle named Theodore (Teddy for short) and a 9 year old Cairn Terrier named Franklin. Both of the little ones are named after roles that Pam’s husband played on stage. “They bring us a lot of joy. Especially now that we are empty-nesters,” Pam said.

In her free time, Pam regularly participates in church activities, yoga, aerobics, and martial arts classes. She also loves to spend her time reading history books, biographies, novels, political journals and whatever else she can get her hands on. She also loves to travel.

When it comes to her volunteering with the HSGKC, Pam has this to say, “Volunteering here is important to keep organizations such as this thriving and financially successful. The more we volunteer to do the work, the more money can go directly to animal care.” And, Pam adds, “Animals need our care and support.”

Next time you stop into the shelter to volunteer, adopt, or just to visit, make sure to bring a box of 35 gallon trash bags! The shelter uses these bags so often that we are currently running out!

For a list of other items and services we need, please check out our Sit Up and Beg Wish List. All of these items go to helping our cause become more successful and our animals’ lives become more enjoyable.

This just in! A new Volunteer Orientation class has been added! The new class will be the 4th Thursday of the Month at 10:30 am at the shelter. As always, this orientation class will serve as the gateway to volunteering at the shelter. If you know someone that is interested in volunteering – let Jo know about them so she can register them for one of our two volunteer classes.

Fellow HSGKC Volunteer, Stacey Hsu, has designed new shirts. Shirts are available at the shelter and HSGKC satellite adoptions for only $8 for volunteers (regular price is $16). Get yours next time you are in.

The shelter just added 20 additional cash donation boxes to our current fleet. We are looking for high traffic businesses to place these colorful donation boxes in. Ideal locations are small businesses, boutiques, automotive repair shops, coffee shops, pubs and grocery stores. Schools and offices are great places, too! Adopt a donation box today! Contact Robin for more information.

The 2010 Snake Parade is almost here! This annual parade is in its 26th year and will be full of St. Patrick’s Day themed family fun. Since it is the day before the Kansas City Pet Telethon a big showing by the shelter will create some great publicity for the telethon, too! Sign up to join your fellow volunteers and walk along the parade route (with your own dog if possible). The parade will be Saturday, March 13 and will start at 11 am with parade staging beginning at 8:30 am.

If you are interested in signing up, please contact Alicia Kelley or Brad O’Bryhim. They are our volunteer parade co-captains. (Make sure to ask them for a copy of the mandatory volunteer waiver! You can’t walk the parade without signing it.)

The newspaper cabinet is running low again. Please help us restock and recycle your newspapers for the shelter pets.

If you love to golf, or if you just love the shelter’s special events and want to help plan one, consider joining the HSGKC Golf Classic Volunteer Subcommittee. The Golf Classic takes lots of work to plan and execute and adding a subcommittee this year will help make this already successful event bigger and better! If you are interested in joining the subcommittee or if you would just like more information about it, please contact Lauren.

We've Been Adopted!
We're excited to share the news that some of our pets have recently found their forever homes:

Edith, Henry, Keiren, Marty, Tootsie... and several more!