The staff and supporters of the Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society celebrated the 110th anniversary of the shelter’s operation by gathering at Billings Farm last Saturday evening for their annual fundraising gala. The event, which packed approximately 65 attendees into the Billings Museum’s dining hall, is the shelter’s largest fundraising effort each year. The major components of the evening were a dinner and an auction that included items such as artworks, experiences at local businesses, and retreats to various locations.
Jackie Stanley, the organization’s Executive Director, admitted that the glamour of the event’s drinks, food, and dressing up was “all a far cry from the reality of animal welfare.” “There are really great days, there are really bad days,” Stanley continued, “but at the end of the day, we’re always the voice for the voiceless. If you’re in this room, I know your heart’s in the right place. There may be days in the future that Lucy Mackenzie really needs our support more than ever.” Reflecting on the vision established by the humane society’s founder, Stanley concluded, “Going back to Lucy Collamer Mackenzie herself, she was always there and always did the right thing. Your support will help ensure that we can be there for each and every animal when they need us most, and in days to come, there will be a lot of animals that need us.”
Robert Shumskis Photos
Among the smaller items up for auction was an assortment of artworks including paintings and sculptures.
