You cannot do what FFRC does every day without friends.  And we have friends all over the world.

And every day we Thank You For Being a Friend.

Those six words will forever be linked to a wonderful friend to animals everywhere:  Betty White.  When she passed at the age of 99 on December 31, 2021, it was like losing a friend.  You never forget a good friend, and you try to honor them and keep their memory alive.  And so, animal rescues and sanctuaries around the world have honored Betty White on her birthday, January 17th, with the Betty White FunRaiser, a yearly fundraiser to keep Betty’s lifelong devotion to improving the lives of animals alive.

This year FFRC would like to celebrate Betty White with a special fun-raiser, starting Monday, January 13th through Friday, January 17th at Noon.  Each day this week we will have small events on cam and will give daily updates beginning on Tuesday.

We ask that if you can, to donate what you can via PayPal, check, money order, or Venmo, in memory of Betty White.  Any amount you can donate, $5, $50, maybe $99.  Give what you can give. And be sure to note on the donation that it is for the Betty White Challenge.

If you aren’t able to donate, come over to chat on the YouTube cam and say “Thanks Betty White for being a friend to animals everywhere.”

While Betty White may no longer be with us, her love for animals remains and we hope that 50 years from now, Betty White’s name will still be thanked for being a friend to animals everywhere.

And Betty, on behalf of Friends of Felines Rescue Center, Thank you for being a friend.

We have installed 34 solar panels!! These are now in place, down on the lower area of land, in full sun. I had mentioned in the last blog that our electricity bills are always so so high, and that we wanted to do something positive in helping ourselves with this problem. The company’s name is Superior Energy Solutions. Here’s the reason we added the solar panels:

Solar energy is sustainable, renewable and plentiful.
Greatly reduces our electric bill
Reduces air pollution
Reduces water usage
Reduces dependence on nonrenewable energy sources
Helps fight climate change
Can earn tax credits

FFRC’s electric bills frequently are over $1,000 a month (this is an actual FFRC cost–this does NOT include the percent of what electricity the house uses).

These 34 panels have a cost of $37,000. That is “all in”–it includes 100% installation, all the meter changes, the cables from the site to the hook up, everything.

The company we chose is reputable, very helpful and will remain with us through all questions and help we may need.

We have already received our first bill and have a decline! 34 panels should see a return of the cost in 12 years. We need to be active in doing something to reduce our electric bill for FFRC.
Solar panels should be thought of as an investment.

The US is moving towards clean energy and solar is our cheapest option.
If we produce more than we need, that energy is stored for us at AEP for future use, OR AEP buys it, thus further reducing our bills.

Steve and I know very well that this is a lot of money for FFRC. We had a friend come and figure the percent of our electric use for the house versus the rescue center. It’s 75% for FFRC. So, if the solar panels cost us $37,000, then FFRC’s share is $27,750.

Steve and I are covering the $9,250. This money does not come easy for us but we feel strongly that we need to do these panels. The electric bills are just too much to continue keeping up with. We had a little savings put away —we used it all to pay this. We both feel it is an investment.

We’ve decided that from today forward, for 2 weeks (ends on May 10), all donations coming in (straight out donations, flash sales, adoptions, etc.) will go towards this. What we receive, is all that we can ask for. Every penny will go towards this need during these 2 weeks. After May 10, then we have to start saving for our monthly utility bills and medical needs again.

We also realize that it is very probable that FFRC cannot fulfill that $27,750. We will figure something out later of how we can cover that. We have stepped out in faith that all will work out, one way or another.

If you’d like to make a donation to help with this, we are grateful. If you cannot, it’s ok too. We truly understand the shortness of funds. We just truly felt it was time to do something to help ourselves with these electric bills.

If you’d like to help, you can send a PayPal to FFRC (go to our website at fofrescue.org and click on PayPal) OR you can send a check–mark it for solar panels OR you can do Venmo OR you can send a money order.

We are grateful as can be and sincerely appreciate any help given for this huge project.

One year on Halloween we set out to take my daughter and Paul Step children out for some trick or treating. It was cold and wet outside. It was a very wet snow in Buffalo. Paul, his wife (at the time) and his friend were walking with a couple cans of beer in a bag, being all goofy. I started to get cold Paul gave me his jacket. The kids were out having fun so was he of course he wasn’t cold well, that’s what he said. I laughed so hard at him because we were in our neighborhood we knew everyone he would run up to a house and say trick or treat and show them he only takes beer. He was so much fun he loved children…. at least I have all the memories of you Paul. You will always be in my heart… I miss you Paul.

Dear Paul

Goodbye Paul I had to say
on october 4th on a cold autumn day
I’ll remember the good times and try not to be sad
But saying goodbye still hurts so bad

We miss you more then We can express
Our love for you will never grow less
We keep trying to imagine how We will go on
We realize tomorrow is another dawn

I know you’re in heaven above
Looking down on us with all your love
Only to whisper in our ear
Remember that I’ll never stop loving you all

I’ll always remember the good times we had
Remember the man, our wonderful tall paul
I’ll remember you each and every day
And if I need to talk to you, I’ll just sit down and pray

One day we’ll be together again
To talk about FFRC
Until the time I’ll always treasure
Having you on cam was such a great pleasure

I miss you so much paul you gave me courage to go on

until we meet again
be blessed and god bless you

from temy and missymjj and our 3 cats

Pauls Final Farewell (By FaithyMD 10/12/2013)

Tyna noticed Paul was lingering
And so she waited too
She seemed to understand
That he had something to do

They sat together side by side
As others passed them by
Some few they met remembered them
And stopped to say hello

But Paul still lingered
And Tyna still waited
She had waited this long
So a few more days were fated

Then Paul said “Tyna Please
Can we go back for a sec
I think there is a reason”
She said, “What the heck”

She knew he always broke the rules
But she knew that he was wise
Still as they passed back over
Others were surprised

Bondi saw them coming
“Paul? What are you doing here”
Then she saw one passing
And the reason became clear

Minto was approaching
He was so filled with fear
Paul scooped him up quickly
Tyna said, “There There”

Bondi looked in wonder
A miracle to see
“No one else has ventured thus
To rescue one as we”

But Paul he had to do it
Just one more rescued cat
And now that he had Minto
“Bye Bye all” – and that was that

Bye Bye Paul – you always had to have the last word!

The video of Paul’s service is uploading onto YouTube at http://youtu.be/iLH2nQs_KyI

RIP Paul, you will be missed!

Gossamer

Paul: Special is the word

Special is the word
that best describes you……

Special is a word that is used
to describe something one-of-a-kind
like a hug
or a sunset
or a person who spreads love
with a smile or kind gesture.

Special describes people
who act from the heart
and keep in mind
the hearts of others.

Special applies to something
that is admired and precious
and which can never be replaced.

Special is the word
that best describes you.

Author Unknown