Local residents gathered at the Orioles Community Center in Lehighton this past Saturday to buy from local crafters and yard sale vendors in support of the Carbon County Friends of Animals organization.

Although this is the first time the CCFOA is hosting this event in particular, a steady flow of people were in attendance this past weekend.

The event, organized by Kimmy Mulik, Dana Dunbar and Stacy Goldberg, included over 40 local craft and yard sale vendors.

Popular craft items included towels, blankets, wreaths, jewelry and woodwork, and many yard sale vendors sold clothing and home décor items at their tents.

One attendee was Diane Highland, a local resident from Franklin Township.

Highland noted that she did not attend with the intention to buy anything in particular. She explained that she was just here to browse and check out the selection of vendors.

“I just came here to find things I like and see what people have,” said Highland.

Some things that Highland bought included an Avon mug and a pair of shorts.

She said it was important to come and support the CCFOA and that if they had a similar event in the future, she would attend again.

One vendor stand which stuck out in particular was John and Mel Hettler’s Liver Transplant Fund vendor stand. They sold country meat sticks and novelty toys for kids including bubbles, bracelets, balloons and sunglasses, which went toward John’s liver fund.

John is an Army veteran experiencing Gulf War illness, which impacts his liver. For the past seven years he has been in need of a live liver donor with O positive blood.

Mel Hettler, John’s wife, explained the transplant process.

“They give a third of their liver and in six to nine weeks their liver grows back to full size and he should have a full-grown liver in a year.”

For more information about John’s story, visit John Hettler’s Live Liver Donor Transplant Search /Fundraiser Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/227380231139251/.

Aside from the craft and yard sale, the event also included a raffle of over 97 items inside the community center donated by CCFOA supporters. Baskets included pet products, bedding, self-care items, cookware, lottery scratch-offs and toys for kids.

Attendees could also grab a snack inside the building as well, including hot dogs, barbecue, chips and baked goods.

Kimmy Mulik has been volunteering at CCFOA for the past 19 years, specializing in their fundraising events.

Given the recent lack of fundraising opportunities due to COVID-19, this event was a way to make up for the amount of fundraising from last year. If successful, Mulik noted a possibility of the event taking place again in the future.

CCFOA also hosted a bingo fundraiser the following day including prizes such as Coach and Vera Bradley bags as well as cash prizes.

When asked about the current state of the shelter, Mulik noted that it has been very busy given the time of year.

“Lately it’s been pretty overwhelming because it’s kitten season. Right now we have a lot of mommies coming in with kittens and we’re pretty crowded there.”

Proceeds from the event will go toward the shelter and items that they are in need of at this time including cleaning products, laundry detergent, litter and canned wet food for the kittens.

Mulik explained the importance of supporting the CCFOA.

“I feel it’s in the best interest of everybody to support the shelter, not just us but the public as well because the reason we exist is to help with the overpopulation of cats. So when we take in a cat we make sure that they are spayed and neutered and we get them adopted out. We don’t want to procreate a whole lot because then you have areas that get overwhelmed and then the cats become feral and then they’re unadoptable. Then we cannot take them into the shelter because they’re a liability risk for the workers.

“Without Friends of Animals being in existence, I feel that we would have a greater overabundance of felines which could lead to a lot more issues with those cats having rabies or other medical issues that could affect somebody else’s animal that they have at home.”

Mulik ended by asking that everybody spay and neuter their animals and to not leave pets inside of hot cars during the approaching summer months. She also noted that CCFOA is available to help however they can with feral cats despite often not being able to house them.

She also said that if anyone needs anything in regards to animal cruelty or neglect they can contact Donna Krum at Blue Mountain Animal Rescue Society at 610-703-6558 or local police.

“We ask that you continue to support us because we’re here for the public,” Mulik concluded.

For more information on CCFOA, visit their website at www.ccfoa.info or their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CCFOA.