Staff Writer
A few months ago, officials with the Halfway Home Pet Rescue received a $500 grant from the Maine Community Foundation to assist with their mission of providing care to stray and abandoned cats. The shelter has seen many cats come and go since them, but left in their wake has been a steadily increasing price tag for medications, care and supplies necessary while transitioning the felines from foster care into perminant domiciles. 
For every cat nurtured by the Halfway Home Pet Rescue, there’s a volunteer that gave countless hours of care. Volunteers include, from left, front row: Stephanie, Stacy and Jenny Chapman, all HHPR foster volunteers of Caribou. They’re holding, respectively, Midnight, Max and Simba. Second row: Sharon Watson of Fort Fairfield holding Carman and HHPR Secretary Anne Price of Presque Isle holding Toby, both HHPR directors; and Pamela Scheppele of Caribou with the Maine Community Foundation. Back row: Fern Gendreau of St. Agatha with the Maine Community Foundation Aroostook County Fund holding Shirley: Verna Johnson of Madawaska Lake, Robyn Smith of Caribou, Webmaster, both on the HHPR Board holding Simon and Paul, respectively; Julie Damboise of Connor, HHPR director holding Janice, HHPR volunteer Desirae Walker of Caribou, holding Nancy and HHPR President and founder Norma Milton of Caribou, holding Danielle.
The expenses incurred for the cats’ care was increasing the amount of funding the shelter receives from dedicated donors and volunteers.
So you can imagine her surprise when President of the Halfway Home Pet Rescue reached into her mailbox and found a $1,500 grant check from the Orlie and Vicky Price Memorial Fund of the Maine Community Foundation.
“It was a miracle — our prayers had been answered,” Milton said. “With this grant we were able to pay our vet bills and order the cats medical supplies for the next few months.”
Neither Milton nor any other HHPR volunteer applied for the grant, but after the shelter had applied for their MCF grant their information was passed along to prospective donors.
According to Pam Schepple, Foundation officer for Aroostook County, the donating parties believe in animal welfare and equally importantly, they believe in The County.
As of HHPR’s last board meeting, there were 51 cats and kittens in foster homes waiting for adoption.
