Lacey Shelter Holds Online Auction To Raise Needed Funds

LACEY, NJ—During the coronavirus pandemic, the Associated Humane Popcorn Park Shelter had to reinvent their fundraising efforts.

In a usual year, the Popcorn Park Shelter would have hosted an arena-sized auction in the fall to raise funds needed to maintain their animal shelter and refuge. Due to coronavirus concerns, the shelter could not host an in-person auction this year.

The auction has been held for over 40 years and usually attracts up to 800 people, according to Popcorn Park Shelter Media Coordinator Sandy Hickman.

In its place, the shelter organized an online auction in October and due to its success, they are hosting a second auction beginning Friday at 6 a.m. through Monday at 6 p.m.

“Fundraising has been the biggest challenge because we’re a nonprofit,” Hickman said. “It’s much more difficult because you can’t do anything in person anymore.”

Hickman said the funds raised from the previous online auction were “not even close” to the amount of money they usually raise at their annual auction.

Over 100 new items are for sale in the shelter's Thanksgiving auction, including holiday-themed gifts, toys, electronics, home decorations and pet accessories. The bidding is all online and highest bidders will pay through the auction website.

All of the funds raised through the auction will be donated to the Popcorn Park Shelter's ResQ Fund, which covers intensive medical care for animals that suffer from injuries or illness.

The Popcorn Park Shelter cares for more than 450 animals, including exotic animals like tigers, monkeys and birds in their refuge, and adoptable animals like dogs, cats and rabbits in their shelter.

At the height of the pandemic, the Popcorn Park Shelter closed their refuge to visitors. Hickman said the admission fee that visitors pay to enter the refuge covers the cost of the food animals eat.

“We were closed for many months in the beginning which was terrible because that money goes toward feeding the animals, so that alone was very difficult for us,” Hickman said.

In June, the animal refuge reopened and now people can gather to view the animals while wearing masks.

Hickman said that the influx of pet adoption applications the shelter received throughout the pandemic helped recoup the lack of funds earned during the refuge’s closure.

“Thank god people are still adopting pets. We’ve been very lucky in that area to keep adoptions going,” Hickman said.

The Popcorn Park Shelter's online Thanksgiving auction can be accessed here. People can also donate directly to the Popcorn Park Shelter on their website.

This story is part of Patch's Headlining Hope series, which profiles local nonprofits and charitable organizations in need of volunteers and resources. If you know of a local organization or initiative that should be profiled, contact kimberee.bongard@patch.com.