by Marsha Chartrand
Once again this year, the Edward Jones branch in Manchester is hosting a “Day of Caring” to give back to a cause that is close to their heart and for which they are committed: the Humane Society of Huron Valley.
Tammy James, branch manager for Edward Jones Certified Financial Advisor Colleen Newton, is organizing this drive for the office and she is reaching out to her community here in Manchester for the opportunity to help.
“We all love our animals here!” says Tammy. “And there is a great need for them at HSHV. That’s why I will be spending my day of caring there on Tuesday, September 17th, volunteering and helping with a variety of causes. This will be my third year at HSVA, along with 14 other Edward Jones branch administrators.”
Tammy explained that it was especially important to help HSHV at this time of year, as people are more likely to think about charitable donations during the holidays. But we have all read stories and seen TV news clips reporting on the incredible need at animal shelters, including HSHV, this summer. Some of these heartbreaking stories have come from as far away as Manchester.
“Our office has started another donation drive,” Tammy said. “The big red box (just like last year) will be in front of 118 E Main St to drop off all donations. In addition, anyone is welcome to come into the lobby to just say hello and drop things off with Tammy, Colleen or Kenzie. We’re happy to unload any items from your vehicle – and if you’re in the Manchester area and can’t make it to the office, we can schedule a time to pick them up. All items will be delivered to HSHV on September 17th.”
HSHV currently requires the following items:
- Blankets and pet beds in queen size and smaller that can be washed in a regular washing machine (larger beds and blankets unfortunately cannot be washed)
- Pet food in original bag/tin up to 3 months after expiry date
- Scoopable cat litter and lightweight litter
- Dog treats, spray cheese, peanut butter (please without xylitol!)
- Canned dog food
- Waterless pet shampoo, alcohol (must be 70% clear alcohol – unscented)
- Liquid Vicks Solution (for steam evaporators)
- Meters of fleece for animal projects
- Small cat furniture
- Gift cards from vendors such as Amazon.com, pet supply stores and office supply stores
All of these items and more are welcome! If you have any doubts about whether something is appropriate for donation, you can call Tammy at (734) 786-8277.
Earlier this year, Colleen Newton was also given a family trip to Maui by Edward Jones. During their stay, she and her daughters visited the Humane Society and, together with some EJ colleagues, were able to spend a day volunteering at their animal shelter during their vacation, helping to build a much-needed storage shed for care needs. “It was super cool and of course my girls wanted to take the kittens home,” she said, laughing. “But it was also a great experience for all of us to see how much the culture there has changed since the big fire last year and that there are still so many homeless animals. It was a good feeling to get involved and be able to help.”
She also noted that this opportunity made it clear to her and other representatives that she could convince her clients here at home that their investments can lead to charitable giving, particularly by shielding required minimum distributions (RMDs) from being taxed as income for those age 70 1⁄2 and older. A qualified charitable distribution can be made: if the IRA owner is age 70 1⁄2 or older, directly from the IRA to a qualified charity, and from a traditional or Roth IRA.
Approved charities generally include most public charities that can receive tax-deductible donations – including religious institutions, certain veterans organizations, fraternal organizations, and community foundations that provide scholarships. So consult your financial planner the next time such an opportunity presents itself… and consider the Humane Society as one of the charities you could donate to! For more information, check out Colleen’s Facebook business page.
Playing with the kittens was an added attraction while volunteering at the Humane Society in Maui.
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