So far, we’ve given away over 1.2 million of our famous round blue 30A stickers. Although we give them away for free in local businesses, donation boxes have been set up in many locations to encourage contributions to Alaqua Animal Refuge, our local no-kill animal shelter.
Our 30A sticker donation boxes have raised over $162,000 for Alaqua in the less than six years since the partnership began.
The refuge is located on 10 acres of idyllic farmland in Freeport, just north of Santa Rosa Beach. As many as 100 animals are adopted every month at Alaqua, and the refuge is home to as many as 250 animals at any given time. It costs $80,000 a month — yes a month! — to run the shelter, which is dependent on private donations.
“This money helps us provide food, medical care and rehabilitation for the hundreds of homeless, abused and neglected animals that cross through our gates,” said Laurie Hood, Alaqua’s founder.
Hood said the impact from the sticker program continues to grow, which is good because the refuge is growing, too. The staff is preparing to move to a much larger, 100-acre facility nearby, allowing them to provide shelter to even more animals and room to expand their outreach and community programs.
“The past year has been great for donations from the sticker program,” Hood said. “We’ve noticed even more coming in now that 30A has opened four retail locations in the area. Every time we go to visit the stores, the collection boxes are full.”
30A’s founder Mike Ragsdale said it’s a perfect partnership.
“Fans get a memento of their time here on 30A, Alaqua Animal Refuge receives the donations, and thousands of animals are provided an opportunity to live happy and healthy lives.”
Any local business that would like to have an Alaqua Animal Refuge 30A Sticker donation box is asked to please call Alaqua at 850-880-6399.
