GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A Grand Rapids nonprofit with a mission of helping cats in need of some extra care find their forever homes celebrated its third anniversary on Sunday.
Second Chance Cats of West Michigan works primarily with municipal shelters and rescues to take cats that are at risk for euthanasia or that have special/medical needs that shelters have difficulty catering to.
"We love working together with other rescues, other shelters," said Laura Moody, the executive director at SCCWM. "We believe that working together, we can get far more done than working separately."
While they don't take cats off the street, it doesn't mean they don't make a big difference for at-risk cats looking for a second chance from a loving family.
Moody said the nonprofit is coming up on 750 adoptions over the past three years.
"We've just really been able to make a big impact in the community," she said.
Moody said it's special to see how the cats change for the better as the volunteers work with them.
"My favorite part always is just to watch the cats grow and change, especially the shyer cats that come in," Moody said. "I love seeing the volunteers just so dedicated, working with them. And then you get to really see their progress and grow, and then they get to go into a home. So just seeing them go through that process is really cool."
However, Moody said the nonprofit wouldn't be here to celebrate a third anniversary without the community's support.
On Aug. 25, SCCWM held an anniversary celebration with a bake sale, raffle, can drive and food.
"We're all about community here and we really wouldn't be where we are today without the community," Moody said. "That's why we wanted to have a day just to celebrate the community that got us this far."
The nonprofit's goal for its fourth year of operation is to have one cat adopted each day for an entire year.
But again, to reach the goal, it takes a village.
"We always can use more help in the community with cats through education, through donations, through fostering, anything you can do helps out and will help the community with the cats," Moody said.
The nonprofit is hosting a rummage sale on Sept. 7 and 8 and is taking donations for it now.
If you're interested in donating, rehoming a cat or volunteering at the nonprofit, click here.