The Shapen Toyota Community

Pawsitivity perfect: Animal Lovers Donate $20,000 Toward Adoption Center

Ken and Pam Shapen, owners of Shapen Toyota, Jerry Cargil, FOMA’S board members; Amy Owen, VP, Leta Kay, outreach organizer, and Judy Cargill member at large, are on hand for a $20,000 check presentation for the new Marshal Animal Adoption Special to the News Messenger

  • Friends of Marshall Animals received a large surprise on Giving Tuesday - $20,000 toward the new Marshall Pet Adoption Center from Ken and Pam Shapen, owners of Shapen Toyota.
  • The donation is the largest single donation that Friends of Marshall Animals (FOMA) has ever received and one of the first business donations toward the construction cost of the building- an estimated $1.5 million of which FOMA is responsible for $450,000. $900,000 of the project will be paid for by the city of Marshall and Harrison County will contribute $250,000 toward the shelter.
  • “Our heartfelt thanks for their generosity and assistance on this important effort to protect and secure a new home for any homeless animals in our country,” Leta Kay, with Friends of Marshall Animals, said.
  • Attending the check donation on Tuesday were the Shapens, Jerry Cargill, FOMA’S board members; Amy Owens, VP, Leta Kay, outreach organizer, and Judy Cargrill member at large.
  • Billy Ballow and Berry and Clay Construction have been chosen to build the project which is now underway and anticipated to be complete in May 2021 on East Travis Street.

Matching Grants Offers Support for Marshall Pet Adoption Center’s Medical Room

Ed Smith, with Friends of Marshall Animals, Ken Shapen, owner of Shapen Toyota, Alera Waite with FOMA and Shelter Director Shelly Godwin pose at the Pet Adoption Center with a dog named Troubadour on Tuesday.

  • The Friends of Marshall Animals and Ken Shapen, of Shapen Toyota of Marshall, are both offering $5,000 matching grants through the end of December to help support a fundraising drive for a new medical room at the animal shelter.
  • The drive was begun by 15-year old FOMA volunteer and animal lover Alera Waite, who began a GoFundMe campaign to support the costs of creating a new medical room in the Pet Adoption Center in Marshall.
  • In the seven months that findariser has been operational, Waite said that she has been able to collect around $40,000 in donations towards its $60,000 goal.
  • “With the $5,000 matching donations from both Ken and the Friends of Marshall Animals, that means that we only need an additional $10,000 in donations to finally reach our goal, “ Mandy Smith, with FOMA, said.
  • Smith said that Shapen was on the the first donors to the shelters capital campaign and has been an adamant supporter of the shelter, and the animals of Marshall.
  • “I am just a dog lover,” Shapen said, “We are just glad to be a part of it, something that is so needed in the community.”