May is the Joe Black Effort Membership Drive Month

May is the Joe Black Effort Membership Drive Month

For those of you who don’t know who we are, the Joe Black Effort is a “no kill” animal rescue group. In fact, we are the only “no kill” rescue in Dekalb County. By “no kill”, we mean that we do everything we possibly can to help the stray, abandoned, abused or neglected animals that are trying to survive on their own. Occasionally there is an animal that may be too sick to save. At those times, after all options are exhausted we must have them humanely euthanize out of kindness and caring so they won’t suffer.

We currently operate from a small office at 458 W. Broad Street. We house our animals with foster families until we can get them adopted out to a great home with people who will love them and care for them. One of the things we do when we have an animal come into our network is get them the medical care they need. That includes their shots, heartworm and feline tests and also have them spayed and neutered. We have many wonderful supporters who donate food, beds and toys for the animals, however, we are in need of your memberships and generous monetary donations to help pay the vet bills. With your help, we also plan to have a “no kill” shelter built in Dekalb County, which will be manned by the volunteers of the Joe Black Effort! We need it, our members know we need it and we are committed to making that happen. We are asking you to have a heart and do your part by supporting the Joe Black Effort.

That’s why May is our membership drive month! We have several memberships to choose from. One for every budget and every little bit helps. The Regular Joe Membership is $10 a year. You receive a membership card and 10% off all Joe Black Effort items and 10% off all of our events. Our Heart and Soul Membership is free to volunteers who give at least 20 hours a year to Joe Black. Heart & Soul members are welcome to donate as well, if they wish. These members will also get 10% off everything Joe Black Effort items such as t-shirts, bracelets, hats, decals and whatever events we have throughout the year. The Hearts of Gold Membership is sustaining members. This membership means a once a month donation, minimum is $10 up to whatever you’d like to give. A Heart of Gold membership receives 50% off all of our Joe Black Effort events and all items we sell again such as t-shirts, bracelets, hats and whatever we decide to sell to fund raise. If we have lots of members, each helping a little bit financially and a few volunteering some time, we can continue to grow into the kind of rescue Dekalb County animal and citizens need, want and deserve!

If you are interested in becoming a member, please call us at 615-464-LOVE, or email us at joeblackeffort@gmail.com and we will get a membership application to you asap. You can also pick up Membership Applications at Dekalb Animal Hospital (Dr. Little’s office), Dekalb Veterinary Clinic (Dr. Wheeler) and Smithville Veterinary Hospital (Dr. Burke).

Be part of the solution!
Let’s make Dekalb county a safe place for animals to live and a dangerous place for animal abusers to live!

Together we can make a difference…..one pup at a time…. One kitten at a time.

American Cancer Society Celebrating 100 Years of Saving Lives

Hundreds of caring members of our community will gather at Green Brook Park on Friday, May 10 in the battle against cancer when the American Cancer Society Relay for Life of DeKalb County gets underway. Participants will be marking a major milestone in the Society’s fight against cancer – 100 years of saving lives.

The American Cancer Society is celebrating 100 years of saving lives from cancer and creating a world with more birthdays. It’s the progress we’ve made together – as a community, as volunteers, as survivors and as leaders – that has helped us reach this incredible milestone with tremendous success. By lending your support to the DeKalb County Relay event this year, you’ll be supporting Society’s efforts to finish the fight and bring an end to cancer as we know it.

The 16th annual Relay in DeKalb County begins with entertainment at 5:00 p.m. followed by the opening ceremony at 6:00 p.m. featuring an introduction of cancer survivors and then a Survivors' Lap, during which those who have survived the struggle circle the track together to help everyone celebrate what has been achieved against cancer.

As the sun sets, Luminaria bags lining the track illuminate the night and then a hush falls over the event as Relay participants, survivors and caregivers gather together for a Luminaria Ceremony at 9:00 p.m. to remember loved ones lost to cancer and to honor those who have battled the disease.

The schedule of entertainment from the stage is as follows:
5:00: Denise Page
5:10: Infinity
5:25: Kathy Goodwin
5:40: Dessa Ray
5:55:
Presentation of the Colors by Boy Scout Troop #347
The National Anthem sung by Suzanne Slager
Invocation by B.J. Thomason, Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church

6:00:
Opening Ceremony-Welcome by Renea Cantrell
Introduction of Cancer Survivors
Song honoring Cancer Survivors performed by Shelley Cross and Bonnie Rigsby
Prayer for Cancer Survivors by Don Rigsby, Pastor of Prosperity Baptist Church

6:45: David Turner and Friends
7:00: Denise Page
7:15: Clifford and Glenda Randolph
7:30: Suzanne Slager
7:45: Fluty and the Flutones
8:00: Kevin Roberts
8:15: Tina Boston
8:30: Terry Hodges
8:45: New Life Pentecostal Church Praise Group

9:00:
Luminaria Ceremony
Prayer by Jeff Armstrong, Pastor of the Smithville Church of God

9:15: Receive It Ministries of the Smithville Church of God
9:30: Rampage Youth Group by the Edge Worship Center
9:45: First Baptist Youth Group by the Smithville First Baptist Church
10:00: Smithville Assembly of God Youth Group
10:15: Brandon and Becky Duke, Elizabeth Chapel Singers
10:30: Denise Page
10:35: 61 Seconds
11:30: Closing Ceremony
Midnight: RELAY ENDS