Since 2014, AUUC has supported paws4people with an outreach collection. On Sunday, April 7, we look forward to hearing from Marten Wallace, USA Veteran, accompanied by his Assistance Dog LANE, a sweet Goldador. Marten will tell us about paws4people® and will share the importance of LANE in his life.
After he speaks to the congregation, Marten and LANE will visit with the children’s religious education class downstairs. They’ll also mingle with us during coffee hour after the service.
The paws4people® Dog Training program is unique. Approximately 100+ inmate trainers receive intense academic and leadership training themselves, and then teach the dogs basic and advanced obedience. The inmate trainers live and work with their dogs 24/7 inside two West Virginia correctional centers. As they work with the dogs, the inmate trainers’ lives are changed, and many move forward on a more positive and productive path.
At about one year old, each Dog chooses their Client through a “Bump” process. LANE took one look at Marten, and knew that was her person! paws4people specializes in training customized Assistance Dogs for two general groups: children and adolescents with physical, neurological, psychiatric, and/or emotional disabilities; and Veterans and Service Members with Chronic/Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI), Military Sexual Trauma, and Moral Injury. 30-40 Assistance Dogs are placed each year at no cost to the recipients. Visit https://www.paws4people.org/
Donations may be made online through the AUUC website anytime during April. Click Donate, then check “Monthly Outreach Offerings”. Donations of cash and checks may be placed in the collection basket during the Sunday service. Or you may mail a check to AUUC; make checks payable to AUUC with a note ‘outreach’ in memo line. Thank you from the Social Justice Committee, sponsor of AUUC Outreach Collections.
Outreach collections are sponsored by AUUC’s Social Justice Committee.
Posted: April 9, 2024