$1,000 gasoline gift card up for grabs

CONCORD TOWNSHIP, Ohio - A $1,000 gasoline gift card could be yours for as little as $5.

The card is being raffled off to benefit the 250 cats, which live at Caroline's Kids Pet Rescue in Lake County.

Caroline's Kids is a single-family home located in Concord Township that serves as a sanctuary for sick, abused and senior felines.

The April 8 drawing of the lucky gas card winner will mark the culmination of a month-long effort to raise thousands of dollars in crucial operating funds for the cat sanctuary.

The Founder and Executive Director of the pet rescue, Judie Brown, told newsnet5.com that the promotion started with an anonymous donation of $1,000. The staff at Caroline's then set about creating a publicity campaign and selling the $5 raffle tickets as a way to 'multiply' the initial contribution. Brown said that more than $5,000 in tickets had been sold with more than a week remaining before the drawing.

"You have to be creative -- things are so bad, and donations are down," said Brown. "We're always in desperate need of donations."

According to Brown, the sanctuary has successfully raised funds in the past by raffling off donated items including a big screen television and $500 airfare gift card.

Brown said the monthly cost to operate Caroline's Kids Pet Rescue is between $15,000 and $17,000.

Anyone wishing to enter the drawing for the gas gift card can print out tickets on the Caloline's Kids Pet Rescue website . The cost of the raffle tickets is $5 each or six for $25. The completed tickets and a check made out to Caroline's Kids should then be mailed to the P.O. Box address on the website. Tickets must be received no later than Friday, April 8, to be included in the raffle. The drawing will be held at the cat sanctuary that afternoon.

According to Judie Brown, there are other ways to help the cats beyond the current raffle. The sanctuary is in need of cat food, cat litter, cat beds, cleaning supplies, paper towels, laundry soap, and more. Donations of cash are always appreciated. And of course, cats are available for adoption. Further details can be found on Caroline's Kids website: http://www.carolines-kids.org/donate.htm