The Pearl River Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) held its annual fundraiser, “ONE NIGHT STAND and OPEN HOUSE,” on Saturday to raise funds for the local animal shelter. Volunteers participated by spending the night at the shelter to gather donations.

Ally Amarena, the event coordinator and a volunteer, mentioned that the event was inspired by the Covenant House sleep-out initiative, which started five years ago and has grown in popularity. This year’s fundraiser featured a live auction, various food trucks, and vendors, all of whom pledged a portion of their proceeds to support the shelter.

Last year’s fundraiser collected $2,500 in donations. Organizers set a target of doubling that amount to $5,000 this year. In addition to fundraising, volunteers took dogs for walks, resulting in some adoptions.

Lauren Fitts, President of the Pearl River SPCA, stressed the importance of the fundraiser, highlighting its potential to become the organization’s primary fundraising event. Fitts identified marketing as a challenge, underscoring the need to increase awareness to maximize participation and contributions.