Shelter Fundraiser ‘Hops’ at Harrison City Market

HARRISON – Clare County Animal Shelter volunteers organized and conducted a multi-faceted fundraising event held Saturday, Nov. 2 at the Harrison City Market. Attendees had the chance to shake a leg and show off their best moves in the Sock Hop portion of the day, sample cakes and chilis in the Bake-off and Cook-off competitions, play some cornhole, get their pictures taken and check out the adoptable animals brought out under the care of shelter volunteers. Those animals included a trio of cats who relaxed in their cages, and a personable and dramatically marked Bluetick Coonhound named Rosco Jr.

The four-station cornhole game gave participants an opportunity to test their arms and aims, while the photo “booth” backdrop with LP records and album covers rocked the ’50s “sock hop” theme.

Silent auction items included various gift certificates/cards, decor items, jewelry and more.

Clare County Animal Control Director Rudi Hicks was on hand to help volunteers with the event, which she admitted included encouragement bidding on some of those silent auction items.

Cakemakers provided saleable cupcake versions of their competing cakes, while cooks sold bowls of their chill-fighting chili – appropriate for a day that included slush occasionally falling from the skies like rain.

The Bake-off winner was Marie Schaeffer whose cake, Pumpkin Cinnamon and Cream Cheese, captured the judges’ attention. Winning the Chili Cook-off was Kathleen Gierum, who said she dearly loves to cook.

“I have a recipe that I’ve done all my life, and I do enter chili cook-offs,” Gierum said. “It’s my Kathleen’s Cowboy Chili.”

As a gracious hostess, Gierum encouraged tasters to also enjoy some of her cornbread with homemade honey butter: hard to refuse such tasty fare.

The Clare County Animal Shelter is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. To learn about available pets, visit Petfinder.com or call 989-539-3221 to speak with an animal control officer or shelter volunteer.