Community is Key to helping abused horses
On Tuesday, May 25th, KeyBank closed its doors to banking business and set about a different kind of business for the afternoon. KeyBank employees wearing red t-shirts emblazoned with “Neighbors Make a Difference” went into local communities to deliver volunteer service of many kinds. The Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals was very fortunate to have an afternoon’s assistance from KeyBankers Kathy Morrell and Alyson Trempe.
The spring afternoon felt more like midsummer with blue skies, sunshine and temperatures approaching the 80s. Kathy and Alyson arrived with plenty of their own supplies, including bottles of water, sunscreen, and cheerful enthusiasm. They said they didn’t mind trading the comfort of the air-conditioned bank for the opportunity to help the once abused or neglected animals who now make their homes at the Society’s River Road farm in South Windham. Although Kathy has previously volunteered and visited at the Society, it was a unique experience for Alyson, who is a new face at Key’s North Windham branch. After a quick check in at the farmhouse, a viewing of the “Before & After” bulletin board, and the opportunity to meet a few of the cats in the cat adoption area (where everyone was treated to a toe licking by one of the tuxedo cats awaiting a forever home), Alyson and Kathy made their way to the big barn in the company of MSSPA vice president Meris J. Bickford.
Inside the big barn our KeyBankers were introduced to the individual horses stabled there. Meris explained the past mistreatment and cruelty endured by the animals and the circumstances leading to law enforcement seizure of them. The women stopped at each occupied stall; one by one the horses greeted them with friendly curiosity. Luke, the golden palomino, nuzzled them with soft lips and charmed everyone with his sweet face and kind personality.
Then it was time to get down to work and the volunteers cheerfully took up the bucket, brushes, and Murphy’s Oil Soap to clean the barn woodwork. The big barn, which opened in 1990, has plenty of woodwork that requires regular cleaning and maintenance. Scrubbing the wood with plenty of hot water, oil-based soap, and elbow grease helps keep the barn beautiful and also helps keep the horses healthy. The barn that was designed by the late Lawrence J. Keddy, a past president of the Society and a generous philanthropist, boasts warm water to each automatic stall waterer in addition to plenty of natural light and good ventilation. Warm drinking water for horses in the winter is considered to be a vital preventative measure against colic and other gastrointestinal problems.
After completing their assignment of cleaning woodwork in the big barn, Kathy and Michelle joined Meris and Tina Bailey at the Society’s administrative office to help price items for the Ultimate Yard Sale held June 12th. Society supporters donated many items to be sold on ebay to benefit the MSSPA as well as items better suited to yard sale liquidation. The air conditioning in the office was a welcome relief from the remarkably warm temperatures of the afternoon. Kathy and Alyson wrapped up their afternoon of volunteering and promised to visit the farm again, bringing family and friends to see the wonderful work done by everyone at the Society. The directors, officers, staff, and animals of the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals recognize and thank our KeyBankers for generously giving of themselves and giving back to their equine neigh-bors!
KeyBank is a regional bank headquartered in Key Tower within Cleveland, Ohio's Public Square. As of 2007[update], it was the 16th largest bank in the United States based on total deposits. It is the 12th largest bank in the United States by total assets. KeyBank National Association is a nationally chartered bank, regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Department of the Treasury. KeyBank has more than 16,000 employees and a diverse client base. Key's customer base spans retail, small business, corporate, and investment clients. There are 1,014 Key branches located in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, and Washington, and 1,501 ATMs. KeyCorp maintains business offices in 31 states. In 2008, Key was ranked 321 on the Fortune 500 list.
Neighbors Make The Difference® is one way KeyBank contributes and gives back to the community. May 25, 2010 marked the 20th anniversary of this project. The first Neighbors Day activity took place in Alaska, and began as a day spent in a variety of community service projects, such as visiting hospital patients, painting homes and cleaning up yards for people who could not do so, and wrapping holiday presents for children who would receive them at the Salvation Army later in the year.
Senior management, managers and staff come together in groups, support Key's volunteer spirit and go to work as community servants. By volunteering, employees become aware that they are part of a company that believes strongly in the importance of community and see firsthand the positive impact of Key's activities in the places where we live, work and conduct business.
The MSSPA is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt public charity. Please take a moment to make a donation to help support its mission of rescue and rehabilitation for neglected or abused large animals. Your generosity will be appreciated and your dollars will go directly to the care of the animals. Better yet, join our herd and become a member of the MSSPA. You may join online or download/print a membership form and send it to the Society by paper mail or telephone the administrative office between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm Monday through Friday. Provide the MSSPA with your email address and we will send news and information from the Society directly to your Inbox. Thank you for helping the animals of the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals.