NORWICH — The Chenango SPCA is participating in the annual Staffworks Save a Life Campaign, which began on November 29, and runs until December 31.

The campaign is geared toward raising money for animal shelters and animal rescues. The Staffworks Charitable Fund at the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties will match $10,000 in donations, plus additional funds for every $5,000 donated, up to $25,000.

“This is a fundraiser, and it’s our end of the year appeal, basically,” said Chenango SPCA Executive Director Annette Clarke. “Ours is called Give the Gift of Life, and it’s through the Staffworks Fund Save a Life Campaign, and Staffworks matches, as I said, the first 10,000 [dollars] that we raise. And then for every 5,000 [dollars] we raise after that we get an additional 500 [dollars].”

The Staffworks Fund was created by Staffworks founder and owner Anita Vitullo. An animal lover herself, Vitullo decided to start the fund to help local shelters, instead of spending that money on marketing.

“She loves animals and believes in their right to life, and she started this Staffworks Fund. She puts money from her business, marketing money from her business, into this fund. And it’s a multi-million dollar fund,” said Clarke. “She invites organizations to be a part of this, and encourages us to go out and raise money.”

“It’s a big deal for all of us. This is a time of year when we hope the people will come forward and donate,” she added.

Since the Save a Life Campaign was established in 2014, it has donated over $6 million to nonprofit organizations, according to Clarke. Last year, the Chenango SPCA raised $92,000 in donations through the Save a Life Campaign. The Staffworks Fund matched $26,000 of those donations, for a total of $116,000 raised for the shelter.

Those who wish to donate can do so on the Chenango SPCA website, chenangospca.org. Donations are also accepted over the phone and at the shelter. Accepted forms of payment include credit cards, checks, and money orders.

“On our website is our Save a Life. There’s an image that says ‘Give the Gift of Life,’ and there’s a ‘Donate’ button right underneath it,” Clarke explained. “And if they click on that it takes them to our page on the Give Gab website, which is the software they’re using for this. So we’ve made our own little page there and it gives you the opportunity to give.”

In addition to the Save a Life Campaign, the Chenango SPCA will also be participating in the Bissell Empty the Shelter adoption special. From December 6 through December 20, adoptions at the Chenango SPCA will be $25 for both dogs and cats.

"Bissell is about adoptions and, you know, it means the adoptions are going to be $25," said Clarke. "They sponsor the adoptions ... It makes it a good time to adopt."

Currently, the Chenango SPCA is home 149 cats and 11 dogs. Clarke said it costs $370,000 annually to run the shelter and care for the animals. Money raised through the Save a Life Campaign will go toward these costs.

“This is a generous community, and we just hope that they continue to be as generous with us, if they can ... Every dime goes to the animals. You know, it doesn’t benefit us, it benefits the animals,” said Clarke. “This is our way to raise the $370,000 we need to raise every year. So this always gives us a nice little head start on next year.”