T-R PHOTO BY LANA BRADSTREAM Sierra Navarro, senior kennel lead for the Animal Rescue League of Marshalltown, shows off Bridget — a colorful, playful and curious kitty who is a resident at the ARL. The nonprofit is at capacity, and has increased fundraising efforts and is looking to expand its foster program.

Residents might have noticed the Animal Rescue League (ARL) of Marshalltown name more frequently in the past few weeks.

ARL Executive Director Austin Gillis said the reason for that is the increase of fundraising efforts.

“We’ve been at or near capacity for several months, and the demand for services — from stray intake to emergency medical support — has grown,” he said. “More fundraisers allow us to meet those needs without compromising care.”

Through Thursday, they are hosting an online Pawmpered (Pampered) Chef party which began Aug. 11. Foodies can purchase items for their kitchen and a percentage of the total sales will go to the ARL.

On Tuesday, customers who mentioned the ARL fundraiser in Applebee’s had 25 percent of their order total donated to the nonprofit. On Aug. 22 and Aug. 23, a yard sale was held on the ARL grounds featuring plenty of pet supplies.

Upcoming is the Halloween Haunted Trail in October, but Gillis said the date has not been set yet.

“While the trail will be on site, it will not include the shelter or any animals,” he said. “We’re keeping their environment calm and secure. This fundraiser is designed to be spooky, family friendly and a creative way to engage the community while supporting our mission.”

A recent change made to the ARL is the person in charge of the fundraising increase. Gillis said they hired Heather Board as the outreach coordinator, who has “hit the ground running.”

“They’ve been instrumental in building our volunteer base, identifying fresh fundraising opportunities and helping us connect with supporters in new ways,” he said. “Their energy and initiative are already making a noticeable impact.”

The ARL does not have a specific monetary goal in mind with the increase in fundraising. Rather, Gillis said they are focused on building momentum on several fronts.

“We’ve got multiple irons in the fire — from facility improvements to program expansions — and each fundraiser helps lay the groundwork for the next big update to our organization and the services we provide,” he said.

Not only will the fundraisers be a financial benefit, but Gillis has also seen an increase in volunteer interest and contributions. As the ARL shares the stories of the animals on their social media pages, he said people see the impact of support and want to be part of it.

The driving force behind the fundraising push has been the ARL’s consistent near or full capacity. Plus, the public’s demand for service, from taking in strays to emergency medical support, has increased. More fundraisers will allow them to meet the needs without compromising care, according to Gillis.

“We’ve been at capacity for just over three months,” he said. “We’re managing intake carefully and working closely with rescue partners and adopters to move animals into safe homes as quickly as possible.”

Those safe homes — adopters and fosters — are the greatest ARL need. Every placement opens space for another animal in crisis, and they are actively seeking compassionate individuals and families who can help make that possible. As a result of that need, Gillis said they are exploring the possibility of expanding the foster program to reduce shelter stress.

The ARL is also launching a community education series on responsible pet ownership and animal welfare laws and looking at facility upgrades.

“We recently purchased new cat kennels to replace units that were over 60 years old, and we’ve just placed an order to begin upgrading kennel panels and doors for a safer, more secure environment for the animals in our care,” he said. “We’re also working on a more robust donor stewardship plan to ensure transparency and long-term sustainability.”

The transparency and long-term sustainability is part of what the ARL is doing to capture residents’ attention. As Gillis said, the ARL is not just a shelter, but rather a reflection of Marshalltown’s compassion.

“Every volunteer hour, every adoption, every foster placement tells a story of people coming together to protect the vulnerable,” he said. “We’re grateful for the support and proud to keep showing up for the animals and families who need us most. Follow us on Facebook or Check out our website for updates and current happenings.”

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Contact Lana Bradstream

at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or

lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.