This delightful thrift store provides a place to drop off donations as well as a bright, well organized place to shop for all of your needs, from furniture, organs, mattresses, clothing, exercise equipment and much, much more. The staff is kind and helpful. One of the few places that takes your electronic recycling daily. Every purchase made helps to keep their free dining room open 365 a year, feeding hundreds of hungry people daily at 610 Wilson in Santa Rosa.
The Edwin E. and Lillian H. Bishop Animal Shelter SPCA of Manatee County is a private nonprofit which aims to prevent cruelty to animals and relieve their suffering. It takes in strays or pets that can no longer be cared for by their owners and offers these dogs and cats for adoption.
All pets up for adoption have been checked by a vet, spayed or neutered and given all their shots and can be taken home for a $60 fee (which goes toward the care of the animals at the shelter). At any given time, there are about 30 dogs and 80 cats waiting for a loving home. You can find photos and profiles of each potential adoptee by searching Petfinder.com or visiting the shelter's website.
Visitors to Bishop can also find educational brochures and emergency window cling stickers for their animals. The shelter was founded in 1958 and has 17 employees on staff. It welcomes donations of clean towels, blankets and toys for the animals, and invites the public (and their dogs) to attend its annual Canine Christmas fund-raiser each year for food, fun, prizes, crafts, raffles and a visit from Santa himself.
Friends of Animals is a non-profit, international animal advocacy organization headquartered in Darien. The primary goal of the organization is to free animals from cruelty and institutionalized exploitation.
All projects and services are entirely supported by membership contributions, bequests and grants.
Friends of Animals’ President is Priscilla Feral.
Information about programs, membership and donating is available on the FOA’s website.