We've taken on a different type of approach

I say that often 🤣 but we don't try to put on a front like we're this huge entity, we do what we can, when we can. 👍 Remember 99% of the year we're 2 people.

Working with different groups.

Starting out. We were glad to have The Perry County Tennessee Humane Society involved with ALL of our early expo's.

They were "donated" kitchen space and used it to run concessions as a fund raiser for their facility. If a year had 4 expos, they were at all 4. Besides the kitchen/concessions they were provided cash donations from the expo and some vendors 👍, there were a few raffles held with vendor donated items 👍 They were also given remaining raffle items that were left over they had an immediate use for. Doubt they got rich from us but hopefully overall it was helpful to them. Unfortunately they disolved, which is why they no longer work with our expos.

Over the years, another cause we got a small chance to work with a few times was MS. Money over in Paris TN.

Hard to explain program that does a lot of good around the holidays. If your in the area look them up on Facebook!!

The whole MS. Money program is a pay it forward, scavenger hunt, help people, give away.. rolled into one, don't want to under explain it. But Ricky seems to help a lot of people with the program.

After the loss of the Humane society concessions.

The Hohenwald Expo concessions was given to the local young kids sports group the "Junior pro panthers" they were able to raise general operating funds as well as collect some funds for those in extra need. They were given concessions until their leadership and structure changed.

Later on

The Hohenwald Expo concessions was able to be used to generate some funds for the Lewis County TN, Cancer fund. A program that helps area cancer patients with their gas to appointments, medicines, etc.. while undergoing treatment. Unfortunatley it was a slow expo, 2 days after their own fundraising dinner and we haven't done expo's there like we once did. Due to some uncertainties with the venue, dates, etc.. Maybe we'll have another chance again, one day.

Christmas theres always someone to help

One year in Paris, TN we had the expo right before Christmas. Vendors (now closed - Reptile House) brought out a huge Christmas village, nutcrackers and other decorations 👍 for what along with others from the expo turned into Pictures with Santa for kids or pets, by donation to help our some local charities last minute. They were hot dressed up holding kids, dogs, pythons and more 😄 Hopefully the effort made a difference to some people that christmas. 🎅

😀 We've done some random things over the years 😀 Some note worthy , lots more not 🤣. Lots more times with specific people making donations they didn't want made public.

Occasionally we'll have people ask, why don't you _____, usually we try.

Surprisingly to us ..

It's not easy to help many places or try to do "charity" events

We've had rescues and groups "not have enough volunteers" to come and open a collection box! You read that right! Florence AL, we were told of the bad situation with cat rescues, starting up in the area we reached out 👍 offered to let them set up (FREE of course) ,no help, no time, etc..

End of the list we offered.. To setup our locked donation box under 2 conditions = 1 they take the keys before the expo started, 2 they come unlock and take the money as the expo ended. Had NO TAKERS.

We've had local "shelters" decline fundraising or adoption space because the "crowd" they see at some pet store adoption events "are higher income".

That ^ leads to much of my disbelief on how bad some want to home or rehome animals or raise funds! I used to deal with some of the same stores/locations, I know they see 300 or so people on a busy weekend. Slow/small expo crowds are 300% of that, busy large expos are 2000% bigger crowds. 📢 Pet expo's are full of people looking for PETS.