Virginia Macha hopes that fireworks sales this year will make life a little brighter for the Allen County Animal Rescue Facility.
Macha is proprietor of Light ’Em Up Fireworks, just east of Jump Start Travel Center in the 1700 block of East Street.
As in years past, Macha’s stand will benefit ACARF, the dog and cat rescue shelter in LaHarpe.
“We’ve had a few people bring in their ACARF pets to the stand,” Macha said Tuesday afternoon. “It’s been great.”
Profits from the fireworks stand could be used for a number of projects, Macha said, the most ambitious of which is a cat room project.
ACARF’s current cat pen has no access to outside light, to the detriment of the furry critters. (Think of how your cats seek a sunny spot.)
“One of the things they’re considering is building a small addition, not unlike an atrium, where the cats can socialize,” Macha said. “We think it could be a nice, attractive addition.”
Other needs are for more shaded areas for dogs when allowed outside, Macha said.
“It’d be up to ACARF’s board of directors to determine where the money goes,” she continued.
This is the third year Macha has operated a fireworks stand in east Iola, but with a new vendor this year, there is additional risk because of higher start-up costs.
“We think we’ll be OK,” she said.
