Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre will open its doors to the public for the first time in three years on May 14 during their annual baby shower fundraiser, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Napanee animal rehabilitation centre had been limited to virtual baby showers the last three years due to two different pandemics-one human, one avian.
“We’re pretty excited about being able to open the doors again,” said Leah Birmingham, SPWC assistant director. “Last year what held us up, because things had kind of opened up by then, we were concerned about the highly infectious avian influenza going around. This year it seems to be a little calmer, at least in our area, so it felt safer to open up the doors.”
The baby shower is the largest fundraiser for the not-for-profit animal centre. It’s also the one time of the year they open the doors to the public, allowing them an inside look at the day-to-day operations.
“It’s going to be very similar to the format people are used to,” said Birmingham. “Doors will be open so people can tour through the centre and there will be different times throughout the day that staff will be feeding babies and there will be staff and volunteers to chat with people who are coming through about what we do, taking a closer look at our turtle room and that fun stuff to see what goes on behind the scenes.”
Visitors will have the chance to watch staff feed baby squirrels, raccoons, birds, chipmunks and possibly even fox kits.
Along with a chance to tour the centre, guests will be treated to a live musical performance from Rubbing Elbows. A host of vendors will also be on site, as well as the opportunity to purchase 50/50 tickets for the centre’s month draw.
Like any baby shower, guests are encouraged to bring a gift. SPWC’s wish list includes: spring mix greens, unsalted walnuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds, dried cranberries, bird seed, oat bran, postage stamps, heavy duty work gloves, butterfly nets, bleach, dish soap, hook and eye latches, pressurized water misting bottles and extra large industrial garbage bag-just to name a few. A full list can be found at www.SandyPinesWildlife.org.
“Those are the kind of things that we’ve really missed in the years where it’s been online because it saved us from doing a lot of shopping,” said Birmingham of the wish list items. “A lot of the other funds that we get donated goes to buy those items. Just having a stockpile of those items was really helpful and since COVID we’ve felt the pain of that one a little more.”
Sandy Pines is located at 8749 County Rd 2 in Napanee.