Pulling for pets: Fundraiser to benefit Humane Society of Young County

Pulling for pets: Fundraiser to benefit Humane Society of Young County News Staff Tue, 06/25/2024 - 3:29 pm

• (TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Kris Rotonda, of the Jordan’s Way animal charity, is pulling an 18-wheeler truck around the Young County Arena parking lot over the next few days in an effort to raise money to get the Humane Society of Young County a new transport vehicle.
• (TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER)

TC Gordon news@grahamleader.com

After a successful fundraiser a few months ago, the Humane Society of Young County is hosting another fundraising event over the next few days.

Kris Rotonda, the founder of Jordan’s Way, a charity named after his dog Jordan who passed away a few years ago, is pulling a big rig truck around the Young County Arena parking lot in an effort to raise money to get the HSYC a new transport vehicle.

“We're trying to get as many as 10,000 new patreons on our page to be able to fund the actual vehicle,” Rotonda said.

Rotonda began pulling the 18-wheeler truck at 7 a.m. Tuesday, June 25 and will be pulling it for three days ending Thursday, June 27. In that time, the goal is to get people from the city of Graham, across the state of Texas and the entire country to join the cause in benefit of the HSYC’s new vehicle.

“Our adoptions are usually maybe 100 to 125 animals a year. But our rescue animals that move out through rescue is usually over 400,” Director of HSYC Shelby Brogdon said. “…The majority move out through rescue, and so if we have a transport vehicle where we’re able to move a larger number of animals we can build relationships with shelters that are out of state further away from us.”

For those who wish to join the Jordan’s Way Patreon in support of this cause, registration can be found here . More information can also be found on the “Jordan’s Way” or “Graham Humane Society of Young County” Facebook pages.

A patreon is a monthly membership and this one has options of $5, $10, $25, $50 and $100. Each level provides a different aspect of assistance to the charity such as helping purchase treats, toys, blankets and beds for the animals, as well as gives exclusive access to Jordan’s Way content.

“This is the first event that (Rotonda’s) done to bring awareness to the patreons project,” Brogdon said. “It will eventually help shelters and rescues across the country. We just happened to be the first shelter to be a beneficiary of the project.”

Back in April, Rotonda stopped in Graham as part of his national tour to fundraise for local animal shelters. The event in Young County was a large success which drew Rotonda back to the area to attempt this newer idea involving the big rig.

“(It was my) imagination, honestly, just one of those things. I’ve done some pulls before with tire pulls and stuff like that, so this is one of those things that kind of matured into an idea,” Rotonda said.

There is still time left to join the cause as Rotonda drags the truck through the Texas heat. It’s a high goal but one that will do a lot of good for Young County.

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