COLUSA, CA (MPG) – Napa Auto Parts’ support of the Friends of Colusa County Animal Shelter, through its booth at the 2024 Farm Show, exceeded expectations.
Last week, Napa donated more than $7,000 to the nonprofit organization to help care for and find homes for stray, unwanted, or abandoned animals.
“Napa is committed to being a member of the community and this is a way we can show it,” said Regional Manager Frank Camilli, who presented a check to Colusa County Animal Control Officer Tawnya Applegarth and FOCCAS member Pam DaGrossa, on Feb. 28, at the Colusa store, on behalf of the company and its staff.
Napa started the “$5 Bucket Promotion” at the Colusa Farm Show in 2023. Due to its success, Napa employees continued their efforts to assist FOCCAS in improving conditions at the shelter.
In exchange for the donation, about 700 Farm Show attendees received a 5-gallon bucket and hat with the Napa logo emblazoned on them, a chance to win a Milwaukee brand tool, a coupon for discounted merchandise at participating Napa stores in Colusa and surrounding counties, and the assurance that 100% of the proceeds goes to provide comfort to dogs and cats that come into the animal shelter, for whatever reason, and help save them from a life of misery or death.
“The people at the Farm Show reacted overwhelmingly again, which we were just thrilled about,” said Camilli.
With lower Farm Show attendance than last year, largely due to severe weather on the second day of the exposition, the second “Napa Bucket Promotion” still raised more than it did at the company’s inaugural fundraiser in 2023, thanks to Napa matching donations dollar for dollar this year.
“The enthusiasm that comes from Napa for this, and, when you are there, they have a great time doing this, which I think influences the community to feel like they can comfortably give and support the shelter,” Dagrossa said. “It makes a tremendous difference, and we appreciate that
Napa is part of our community here.”
Thanks to the $5 Bucket Promotion, FOCCAS was able to expand and make significant improvements to the exterior area of the shelter last year, including providing kennels in the outdoor pens. This year, FOCCAS hopes to build on what Napa did in 2023 by providing cover.
“That would really change things out there, both in the brutal summers and when it’s raining,” DaGrossa said.
Applegarth said donations to FOCCAS also help cover transportation costs for animals needing medical attention outside Colusa County or by providing transfer to facilities and organizations that assist in placing animals in loving homes.
“Right now, our population is not too bad,” Applegarth said. “It was worse, but we found some rescues that we were able to get the dogs to. We were able to get transport to get them out of our county and where they needed to be.”
Camilli said he hopes Napa will continue the tradition it started and looks forward to the 2025 Colusa Farm Show.
“We enjoy giving back to the community and to a worthwhile recipient.” Camilli said.