All posts by Ann Fratesi

Carrollton Market – ARRF Valentine Dinner

February 14, 2017
Jason Goodenough, owner and chef of the impressive New Orleans restaurant, Carrollton Market, generously provided staff, food, and beverage for a Valentine Dinner to raise money to fence in the play area and walking trail at ARRF’s new shelter in memory of his late mother-in-law, our own Kathy Frankel Smith. Chef Goodenough, who has long been a generous supporter of ARRF, is the son-in-law of Kathy Smith and husband of Kathy’s daughter, Dr. Amelia Chisolm Goodenough. Among other honors, he was named New Orleans Magazine’s “Chef of the Year” for 2017 and was touted as “One of Four Restaurants You Don’t Want to Miss in New Orleans” by The Times Picayune.

One hundred and thirty-six people attended the $100.00 per ticket affair. It was a tremendous success. The dinner was held at the former Vince’s restaurant and, thanks to the exceptional decorating talents of Mona Kirby and Kathy Day, the ambience was festive, yet very elegant! The food was literally “to die for” and is the talk of the Delta. Each guest had a choice of one of three appetizers, including Carrollton Market’s signature dish, Oysters Goodenough with Creamed Leeks, Benton’s Bacon, and Bernaise; one of three entrees, including Potato-crusted Redfish with Stewed Field Pea and Ham Shank Ragout, Shellfish Vermouth Emulsion; and one of two desserts, including Black and White Bread Pudding with Chocolate Sauce and Chantilly Cream.

During the evening, three packages were auctioned: 1). A dinner for twelve in your home, provided, prepared and served by Chef Goodenough and his staff 2). A dinner package with gift certificates from six local restaurants 3.) 2 nights at Harlow’s Casino Resort, with 2 buffets, a spa gift certificate, and a gift certificate to a local restaurant.

Tickets were sold out within a matter of days and there is a waiting list for next year’s event!!

Without the generosity of the following people, this wonderful event would never have been possible:
Chef Goodenough and his staff
Joe Robert Campbell and Vince’s
Harlow’s Casino Resort
Tra Dubois
The Mitchell Distributing Company
The Woodhouse Spa
Restaurants – Lillo’s, Cicero’s, Doe’s Eat Place, Sherman’s, Downtown Grill, South Main Market & Deli, and The Cow Pen
Amy Virden
and all hardworking ARRF volunteers

National Adoption Month

October is “NATIONAL ADOPTION MONTH”. Donation jars will be available in businesses around Leland and Washington County to collect donations to support the work ARRF does in finding loving adoptive homes for the lost, abandoned, unwanted, and abused dogs and puppies of our area.

If you would like to donate to celebrate National Adoption Month via our website, please click on our
“DONATE” button.

OUR NEW SHELTER IS FINALLY BECOMING A REALITY!!

This new shelter building is going to be a wonderful improvement over the antiquated, totally inadequate facility that was built over 65 years ago to briefly “store” the lost, abandoned, unwanted and abused dogs of Leland and unincorporated Washington County before they were shot on site and taken to the dump.

Our new shelter under construction.

The concrete foundation has been poured and the outer building is up. Some of the Improvements that will be realized over the old facility are as follows:

• A heating and cooling system that allows the dogs to live in comfort where they are cool and free from mosquitoes in the summer and warm and cozy in the winter,
• A quarantine area that will isolate sick dogs and new dogs from the general population for a period of time, keeping exposure at a minimum,
• Dog Runs with a separate drain, instead of several runs sharing a single drain, as the existing facility has, creating the problem of cross contamination with which we are currently dealing,
• Smooth, sealed, easily cleaned and dried flooring, instead of cracked and crumbling concrete
• Individual Dog Runs that are separated into two sections by a doggy door, one indoor and one outdoor, to ensure that the dogs will no longer get wet during daily maintenance…..and much more.

Oh, may I mention that the new shelter will have a bathroom for volunteers? YIPPEE!!!!!!! (Is there some kind of little cartoon character or dog jumping and celebrating that we could put here?)

While we have made a great deal of progress with raising funds, thanks to the hard work of Animal Welfare League of Greenville, we are still short of the amount it will take to complete our shelter project. To date, $174,000.00 has been raised. To be operational, we estimate that we need an additional $25,000.00 and to totally finish the project, we will need $92,000.00.

We are encouraging all animal lovers to join us in the effort to give these precious four-legged friends a clean, sanitary, comfortable environment in which to live as they wait to be adopted into loving forever homes. Go to our “DONATE” button and help make this dream come true. Please specify that you want your gift to go to the Building Fund.