Beth Ray, left, administrative assistant at TRC’s Mary Andrews Center, poses with Barb and Clint Lewis, f Lakeshore Humane Society volunteers, while delivering items collected in Dunkirk.

Area shelters, and the animals they support, received a boost from The Resource Center again this holiday season through TRC’s “Santa Paws” initiative.

Spearheaded by Joe Popielarz and his colleagues in TRC’s information technology department, Santa Paws debuted in 2023 to collect items to support area animal shelters. It was so successful that Popielarz and the IT department have continued the initiative in each of the past two years.

The latest effort was titled “Santa Paws Returns: A Tail of Joy.” Collection boxes were placed at TRC’s administrative office building on Dunham Avenue in Celoron and its Mary Andrews Center on East Chestnut Street in Dunkirk. TRC staff and community members were encouraged to donate a variety of items (such as food, toys, beds, blankets, towels, cleaning materials, and office supplies).

The collected items were delivered to the Chautauqua County Humane Society near Jamestown, Lakeshore Humane Society in Dunkirk and Pick of the Litter in Falconer.

Popielarz said he was pleased with the response to the most recent Santa Paws initiative.

“We had another successful year of collecting for the local rescues,” he said, “providing them with direct relief by giving them the supplies they desperately need to care for the animals. All rescues were extremely grateful for all the donations received from TRC.”

Popielarz expressed gratitude to The Resource Center’s administration for endorsing Santa Paws and to everyone who donated.

“I am so thankful to the agency for allowing us to do this collection every year and thankful to the staff/community who helped donate the items for this cause.”

He added that Santa Paws will return in 2026.