Watertown Company Helps Launch New Statewide Pet Charity

Most modern corporations have a pet charity, or designated non-profit organization, which becomes the fortunate beneficiary of recurring company fundraising activities. Packaging And Crating Technologies (PACT), a Watertown-based manufacturing company of durable cardboard moving containers for the military, commercial and industrial sectors, is earmarking its monies for a new, actual pet charity that matches stray animals with forever homes. Specifically, PACT recently donated $1,000 to Beacon Of Light Animal Rescue to help launch the New Hartford foster-based organization that services dogs and cats around Connecticut.

“It is no secret that our company supports the military and its various foundations throughout the year as our primary charitable giving effort,” said Rodger Mort, chief operating officer at PACT. “But just as we consider first responders and Vets to be our heroes, so too, are the animals that help our police officers in K-9 units or provide emotional service to those who have served our country. Simply put, PACT is all about patriots and pets and we’re happy to help any organization that rescues, fosters and places animals in good, quality homes.”

Mort notes that he became aware of the new non-profit through his fiancé, Dena Franks, owner of The Store Bar & Grill in Torrington, Conn.

Beacon of Light Animal Rescue, Inc. (BOLAR) was founded by Barkhamsted residents Lisa Marecki and Megan Keefe in March, 2024. The couple has been involved in all aspects of pet rescue, including donating, networking, locating adopters and fosters, and supporting fundraising for several other animal shelters for many years and has witnessed firsthand the urgent need of placing a growing supply of animals in homes.

“We saw how many people on social media were starting conversations about how they wish that they could help or do something more for the huge unwanted pet population, but never actually did anything about it,” said Megan Keefe, co-founder of BOLAR. “We decided to put our ‘bark where our bite is’ and start our own animal rescue organization. Naturally our mission is to encourage adoptions, but if that’s not possible, foster, if that’s not possible, sponsor, if that’s not possible, volunteer, and if that’s not possible, donate. Basically, everyone can do something to help the plight of our furry friends.”

Keefe notes that the majority of its animals are rescues from within the state, but many cats and dogs have also originated from the south. “We are seeing a desperate need in the Houston, Texas area, which I have visited three times in the past couple of years to assist our rescue partners since the situation there is so dire.”

Keefe also notes that besides connecting compassionate individuals with animals in need, BOLAR will be raising money to assist the local community by organizing food pantries, finding rides for people who can’t drive to the veterinarian, offer free rabies clinics and low-cost spay and neuter programs, as well as educate the public on the importance of spaying, neutering, microchipping and vaccinating one’s pets.

In fact, on Saturday, June 29, 2024 from 1 to 5 p.m., the organization is hosting its first fundraiser, “Pints for Paws” at Little Red Barn Brewers located at 32 Lake Street in Winsted, Conn. The event will feature live music, food, raffle prizes, and company merchandise. For tickets, visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/852157910266874?ref=newsfeed.

“Animal rescue is both a real need in society and a personal passion of ours,” adds Keefe. “With the generous financial support of companies like PACT and individuals in the community, we know that we will be successful in ending this crisis.”

ABOUT BOLAR, INC.
Founded in March, 2024, Beacon of Light Animal Rescue, Inc. is a non-profit organization with the underlying mission of finding loving homes for cats and dogs in Connecticut and Texas. The charity encourages adoption, fostering, sponsoring, volunteering, and donating from both businesses and individuals as it provides resources and education to rescue, spay and neuter pets. Visit https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557147826188 for more information.

ABOUT PACT®, LLC
PACT®, LLC is a global leader in manufacturing sustainable, packaging products for the commercial, industrial and military sectors. With more than 25 years of experience, the family business was founded by three green packaging professionals and continues to embrace a green future by designing cost-effective, patented, crating solutions like LiftVans and PleatWrap, as well as custom packaging for the aerospace, medical, electronics, tooling, machinery, furniture, fine art and automotive sectors. The company’s newest innovation is PACT® Thermo Shield TM, a sustainable, paper-based packaging material that suppresses and controls lithium-ion battery fires by mitigating thermal runaway. The company is a member of the Commercial Relocation Network, the Council on Safe Transportation of Hazardous Materials and the International Association of Movers. It is also a preferred vendor for the US Department of Defense and has been awarded a special permit from the US Department of Transportation for the shipping of lithium-ion batteries, as well as passed the proposed SAE-G-27 test standard. For a full list of PACT’s sustainable packaging solutions, visit www.pactww.com.

PHOTO: Packaging And Crating Technologies (PACT), a manufacturing company of durable cardboard moving containers for the military, commercial and industrial sectors, recently donated $1,000 to Beacon of Light Animal Rescue, Inc.(BOLAR), a new charity that finds loving homes for cats and dogs in Connecticut and Texas. From left: Megan Keefe and Lisa Marecki, co-founders of BOLAR, are presented with a $1,000 donation by Roger Mort, chief operating officer at Packaging And Crating Technologies (PACT) and Dena Franks, owner of The Store Bar & Grill, to launch its mission of saving cats and dogs on a statewide level.
CREDIT: PACT