Animal shelter volunteer group receives $25,000 grant 

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- A social services organization is giving volunteers at the local animal shelter a boost, as shelter staff continue to prepare for a move to a new home. 

A social services organization is giving volunteers at the local animal shelter a boost as shelter staff continue to prepare for a move to a new home. 

The Community Foundation of Northwest Missouri presented a $25,000 grant check from its Mary Margaret Hodgin Fund to Friends of the Animal Shelter Tuesday afternoon. 

"When Mary Margaret died, she wanted to support animals and cats into perpetuity, so she set up a fund with us so that every year the proceeds or the interest from that fund go to support animals," CEO Mary Hinde said. 

The grant money will go toward the spay and neuter assistance program to help pet owners cover the cost of spaying or neutering with a goal of reducing the number of stray animals. 

“We’re kind of rolling it out, trying to expand it,” said Ed Vanover, president of Friends of the Animal Shelter. “This is definitely going to help with that.” 

It’s a timely contribution that comes as shelter staff await construction of a new animal shelter. 

City councilmembers unanimously approved a $4.7 million contract with E.L. Crawford Construction in March to build the new animal shelter at 3405 S. Belt Highway next to the St. Joseph Recycling Center. 

“We’re finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel as far as having a new shelter, and it’s exciting,” he said. “It really is, and the city deserves it.”