Volunteer

Mar 05, 10:18 AM

Current Headlines: Alan Lawrence

Humane Society of the Piedmont

What he does: Whenever the three staff members at the Humane Society of the Piedmont need a helping hand, they know just the person to call. Alan Lawrence is their jack of all trades, said Lauren Riehle, the Humane Society's volunteer and events coordinator.

Lawrence helps with bulk mailings, picking up donated dog and cat food and organizing the food storage shed. He helped plan the organization's recent auction and donated furniture from a hotel he and his family formerly owned.

"Animals and children need all the help we can give. We enjoy having animals around us as company, so we need to return the favor of their love and companionship," Lawrence said.

A trained accountant, Lawrence also shares his professional expertise by serving on the Humane Society's finance committee. Lawrence appreciates how much small nonprofits have to do with limited staff and resources. "They need all the help they can get, and I just want to do my part," he said.

Why he does it: An avid cat lover, Lawrence is a strong believer in spaying and neutering programs. "Pet owners have a responsibility. There's no excuse for not having your animals fixed," he said.

Lawrence is proud that the $20,000 he helped raise at the Humane Society's auction will be used to expand its spay/neuter program. Funds from the agency's participation in the Human Race, a community fundraising event on March 24, also will be put toward the expanded program, and Lawrence is working hard to solicit walkers and runners for the 5K event.

Riehle said the Humane Society is focusing its efforts on low-- cost, high--volume spay and neuter programs to reduce the number of unwanted animals and overcome the tragedy of pet overpopulation in Guilford County and the surrounding areas.

What he tells others: Lawrence is grateful he has extra time to volunteer. "It would be a shame for me not to share my abilities with someone who needs help. Somewhere along the line, all of us have been helped ourselves in some way or another. If you've benefited from living in a good society, you should return the favor."

Want to know more about volunteering? Contact the Volunteer Center of Greensboro, 1500 Yanceyville St., Greensboro NC 27405, or call 373--0670, or visit www.volunteergso.org.

(c) 2007 Greensboro News Record. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.