GABLES DAY 2009 IS HUGE HELP TO THE CATS!
Gables Residential is an incredible company that owns and manages commercial and residential real estate across the country. Each year their regions select a non profit to help for a day on a massive scale. Big Cat Rescue was fortunate to be chosen this year as one of the beneficiaries of this tremendous generosity.
Employees Robert Taylor and Melanie Maughan did a masterful job of organizing the efforts of over 100 employees and vendors who donated time, material and an enormous amount of labor. Vendors like Criste Construction, TruGreen of Tampa and Orlando, Allstate Tree and Southern Pride and LMC Landscaping brought equipment and staff. Gables and other vendors donated cash to purchase materials. Chick-fil-A donated a hearty lunch for all.
A huge amount was accomplished! The road to our rear entrance, which in the past was under water and unusable during heavy rain, is now higher, wider, and has a turnaround area to make it function in any weather. Our summer campers and their parents who had to ferry to the camp building will not recognize it.
The half of the double chain link fence that was blocking our ability to continue to build the new solid wall along our south border was taken out. The heavy foliage that was growing into it and into the section of fence that will remain was painstakingly removed. On the east border, the invasive trees that have been pushing our wall over were all trimmed back and chipped. The unsightly well pump at the south entrance was encased in a wooden pump house that was built and painted. Finally, the area on both sides of the south gate was irrigated and planted with spectacular landscaping.
The slide show below shows some of the incredible work done by these magnificent people. On behalf of the cats, thanks so much for making Big Cat Rescue the beneficiary of your 2009 “Gables Day!”
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