Help Popcorn Park Zoo Win The OceanFirst Challenge

Every hour of every day all year round the Popcorn Park Zoo's Animal Shelter takes in injured, abused or homeless animals.

And that takes money. Lots of it.

Popcorn Park is in the running for the OceanFirst Foundation's 4th annual OceanFirst Charity Challenge, a friendly fundraising campaign for organizations that provide services within the OceanFirst Bank footprint. Participating organizations will compete for over $30,000 in prizes to help further their missions.

The challenge runs through Tuesday, May 16 at 1:59:59 p.m. The team that raises the most wins a $20,000 grant. The second place team will get $5,000, the third gets $2,500.

In addition to the grand prize grants, there will also be weekly Bonus Challenges for organizations to win another $5,500 as well as daily giveaways for organizations to win even more.

Even if a team doesn't win any grand prizes, they can keep any money they raise during the campaign, according to the OceanFirst challenge Facebook page.

Associated Humane Societies is hoping to raise $30,000 this year that will go to the park's Res-Q Fund, which is the fund used to pay for medical care for the animals at Popcorn Park.

"We see countless cases of abuse and neglect of innocent, defenseless animals every day," according to the Facebook page. "So many of these animals need surgery, therapy, medications, and continuing medical care to make their lives whole again. We have cured so many, yet more keep coming. $30,000 would go such a long way in the plight of helping animals in need."

As an added bonus, a special donor has pledged to match every donation up to $800 through May 3.

"This is a person that already gives so much to us at Associated Humane Societies and supports us not only through generous donations, but also by adopting many of our animals in need," the post reads. "She has seen the lifesaving work that we do with our Res-Q Fund and knows that her donations go toward saving more lives. We truly cannot thank her enough. Please take her up on this wonderful offer and click here to read about the contest and donate: https://www.crowdrise.com/associated-humane-societiespopcor…

Image: Associated Humane Societies Popcorn Park