By Suzanne Mooney
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Mahatma Gandhi once said, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” For San Dimas resident Jennifer Alcala, those words couldn’t ring more true. Alcala was featured last month because of the love that she and husband Edgar have shown three formerly homeless dogs who made their way into the Alcala’s lives. But those three lucky dogs aren’t the only ones whose lives have been enhanced by this animal lover. In early 2005, Alcala went to the Inland Valley Humane Society to register Molly, one of her greyhounds. She had seen numerous articles in the San Dimas Community News about the dire need for blankets and towels at the Humane Society due to the heavy rain of the season. After paying for Molly’s registration, Alcala decided to walk through the Humane Society and check out the situation for herself. “By the end of the first aisle I was in tears,” Alcala said. “I composed myself as best I could and asked a nearby volunteer, ‘How do you decide who gets the blankets and towels?’” The volunteer explained that the sick and the old get them first and then it goes from there, depending on how many blankets and towels are available. Unfortunately, however, at the time there just weren’t enough to go around. Alcala couldn’t bear to see so many animals lacking a comfort as basic as something soft to lie down on, especially considering the cold temperatures. “A lot of times that’s all they have in their little cell to give them any warmth and comfort,” Alcala says. “I was just so touched by the images and how simple it could be – it could be fixed so easily, it just needed someone to facilitate it.” Whether she realized it at the time or not, Alcala was that someone. Looking back on that day, she says, “I looked [the volunteer] in the eye and said, ‘I will be back.’” |
That night, Alcala couldn’t sleep. So the next day she bought two big bags of towels at Target and dropped them off at the Humane Society. Then she went to Goodwill to buy more blankets and later called her family to explain the situation and to enlist their help. Two days later Alcala returned to the Humane Society with even more blankets and towels. The seed had been planted and Blankets for Buddies was born. Blankets for Buddies is a California Non-Profit Organization, founded by Alcala and inspired by her love for animals. The Blankets for Buddies motto is “Bringing warmth and comfort to local shelter animals” and Alcala has done exactly that. She received permission to leave a basket in the entryway of San Dimas City Hall to collect donations of blankets and towels. She put notices in the newspaper and made flyers to distribute to the community. She has also successfully involved local schools. A blanket drive at San Dimas High School, for example, brought in enough blankets and towels to provide for six local shelters. “They say one person can make a difference and it sounds so cliché – but I am one person. Just starting with two bags from Target, I didn’t realize how easy it would be to make a difference.” Alcala saw a need and took it upon herself to find a solution. Rather than just lamenting the problem and waiting for someone else to do something, she acted. “It’s our responsibility to speak up for those who don’t have a voice,” Alcala explains. “It’s such a simple thing to me – blankets and towels. Being able to help these animals just fills my heart with happiness.” If you have blankets or towels to give please drop-off your donations in the “Blankets for Buddies” basket located inside the lobby of San Dimas City Hall, Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information or to find out how you can help, please contact Jennifer Alcala at (909) 753-3930 or Blanket4Buddies@ msn.com. |