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Mohawk House goes to the dogs for O.S.C.A.R. fundraiser

| 17 Dec 2013 | 04:01
    Photos by Scott Baker Regan Thiel, 13, of Andover, gets to know O.S.C.A.R. rescue Charlie.
    Photos by Scott Baker Regan Thiel, 13, of Andover, gets to know O.S.C.A.R. rescue Charlie.
    Photos by Scott Baker Lou Verile Jr. of Montague, volunteers to help load the O.S.C.A.R. van with newly-donated supplies.
    Photos by Scott Baker Lou Verile Jr. of Montague, volunteers to help load the O.S.C.A.R. van with newly-donated supplies.
    Yvette and Sirena Adessa, of Sparta, get to know Deetle the kitten.
    Yvette and Sirena Adessa, of Sparta, get to know Deetle the kitten.
    Alex Flockhart, 9, and Shaye Daly, 15, both of Sparta, spend some time with O.S.C.A.R. rescues Christian and Tippy.
    Alex Flockhart, 9, and Shaye Daly, 15, both of Sparta, spend some time with O.S.C.A.R. rescues Christian and Tippy.
    Mohawk House employee Shannon Snure, of West Milford, takes a break with Bailey.
    Mohawk House employee Shannon Snure, of West Milford, takes a break with Bailey.
    Local students donated art to sell to raise money for O.S.C.A.R.
    Local students donated art to sell to raise money for O.S.C.A.R.
    O.S.C.A.R. volunteer Maya Vergalito, seven, of Stockholm, shows how good Tess the puppy is with children.
    O.S.C.A.R. volunteer Maya Vergalito, seven, of Stockholm, shows how good Tess the puppy is with children.

SPARTA — The aftermath of Winter Storm Electra didn’t stop the community from coming out in droves to support Sparta’s One Step Closer Animal Rescue (O.S.C.A.R.) at the Mohawk House’s first-ever adoption event and fundraiser this past Sunday, Dec. 15.

The event, co-sponsored by the Mohawk House and Nielsen Auto Group, garnered nearly $3,000 in cash donations as well as $2,700 in pet food and supply donations for the rescue organization during the three-hour event thanks, in part, to the restaurant’s “you get what you give” promotion—where donations were matched to the dollar with Mohawk House gift cards.

“It’s a dream come true” to be able to help an organization like O.S.C.A.R., Mohawk House owner Steve Scro said at the event. “(My wife) Rachael and I are regular advocates of animal well-being, so this is one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done.”

In addition to the food and supply drive, the restaurant hosted an adoption event featuring roughly 30 of O.S.C.A.R.’s available dogs and cats. O.S.C.A.R. director Cassie Kowalchuk reported after the event that six dogs and three cats were given to good homes at the event, and three more prospective adopters filled out applications and are awaiting a home visit. With 12 less animals, O.S.C.A.R. will have room and resources to rescue as many animals from kill shelters and start the process anew.

“It’s like a merry-go-round that never stops,” Kowalchuk said of the organization’s adoption and rescue process.

Community outreach
“We wanted to do something for someone who really needed it,” said Eric Nielsen, owner of Nielsen Auto Group, which operates Franklin Sussex Auto Mall, Franklin Sussex Hyundai, and Dover Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep in Sussex County and Nielsen Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep in East Hanover.

“So many of the events we do are really about the community,” he added, “not just about selling cars.”

Nielsen Auto Group’s general manager Bill Snouffer was moved by Kowalchuk’s story when the two were introduced at the Mohawk House prior to the event and he was “overwhelmed with what she shared.”

“Her whole life is wrapped around this organization,” he said, “and we felt that we should share a part of our success with her.”

In addition to donating several thousands of dollars’ worth of items to be given away as door prizes, Nielsen Auto Group wrapped a cargo van with the O.S.C.A.R. logo to be used to collect donations.

The van was filled once before the event and once after.

While the event is over, Scro made sure to point out the season of giving is far from over, as the van will be parked at the restaurant and in several locations throughout Sparta over the next few weeks.

“Rumor has it,” he said, “the van is heading to Stop & Shop in early January.”

“You never know where it’s gonna be next,” he added.

More information
For information on current promotions tied into the O.S.C.A.R. supply drive and to learn van locations, visit www.mohawkhouse.com or like the restaurant on Facebook.

For an up-to-date list of pets available for adoption from O.S.C.A.R. and all required paperwork, visit www.oscaranimalresue.org.