Clark County child’s birthday party gives boost to animal shelters

READ MORE: Clark County 9-year-old raises money to help local animals in need

The 68 guests at Eloise’s birthday party on April 22 were all urged to bring a donation.

“We received probably a truck load full of donations, all from our family and friends,” Jamie McKinnon said.

Items that were brought to the party included leashes, bags of dog food, bones, toys, blankets, buckets, dish detergent, bleach, cat food, cat treats and cat litter.

The donations are going to the Clark County Humane Society and PAWS Animal Shelter in Urbana.

The McKinnons said they wanted to teach their daughter the importance of giving and wanted her to understand the meaning and reasons behind these acts of kindness.

“Eloise is at a very impressionable age where everything we do is a life lesson for her future,” Jamie McKinnon said. “I think it is really important to give back when you can and I want her to understand that.”

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The McKinnons hope to make this a family tradition and said that Eloise was excited to see all of those donations and even took part in loading them in the family truck.

“She (Eloise) helped us bag up the leashes and pack up the truck, she was so excited,” Jamie McKinnon said.

The family has two dogs, a cat and a gold fish and describes themselves as animal lovers who thought this would be a great way to help local shelters.

Toni Mossbarger, who is the manager of Paws in Urbana, said donations and community support are the foundations of their organization and that they accept anything from food to cleaning supplies.

She also added that the community is very receptive of their message and that the shelter will post notices of items they need on a sign in front of the shelter and those passing by will deliver.

“People drive by and they will go to Walmart and comeback with two big bags of dog food,” She said.

Mossbarger said that she is grateful for the donations coming from the McKinnon’s and she is happy that they are teaching their daughter the importance of giving at such a young age.