San Antonio Unites for The Big Give to Support Local Nonprofits
San Antonio is buzzing with excitement as the much-awaited Big Give, the largest day of online giving in South Central Texas, kicks off this Wednesday and Thursday. For the past ten years, this incredible event has raised over $45 million for the local nonprofit community, and this year is set to be even more impactful with 400 nonprofits participating.
Among the organizations benefiting from this year’s initiative is the Bear Den Sanctuary, a haven dedicated to rescuing and caring for unadoptable and feral cats in San Antonio. The sanctuary is on a mission to raise thousands of dollars to establish a second location, aimed specifically at saving more of these felines.
What Is Bear Den Sanctuary All About?
Located in Bulverde, Bear Den Sanctuary has become a safe haven for many cats, where they can live out their lives in peace. Blake Feuge, the sanctuary’s director, passionately shares, “Bear Den Sanctuary is a forever home for unadoptable and feral cats. And we also spay and neuter in the community, that’s one of our big projects.”
The sanctuary has been a lifesaver for countless cats, many of whom arrive from the streets of San Antonio, some even rescued from the euthanasia list. The team at Bear Den works hard to trap, spay/neuter, and either return the cats to their caregivers or provide them with a forever home in the sanctuary.
The Challenge at Hand
Feuge highlights a significant challenge facing the sanctuary: “A lot of these cats and dogs, they have no feeders,” she explains. This resonates with the community’s struggles, as many feral cats lack the necessary support and food supply they need to thrive. The sanctuary operates on a three-acre property housing 150-200 cats, but their dreams extend far beyond these limits.
The vision is to expand to a larger property of 25-30 acres that could provide shelter for thousands of cats. “As soon as we can get land, the next step is to trim trees around the property, to fence the whole property, and we can bring in cats once building structures and all,” shares an optimistic Feuge.
The Big Goals of The Big Give
To realize this ambitious expansion, the sanctuary requires substantial support financially. The estimated maintenance cost for the second property is around $1 million, so Feuge is aiming to raise between $10,000 and $20,000 during The Big Give, either through donations or by finding a land donor.
Like many nonprofits, Bear Den Sanctuary relies heavily on community support and donations for its operational costs. Additionally, they offer unique merchandise that contributes to funding. “I think with the problem, the magnitude of it requires something that hasn’t been done before,” Feuge explains, advocating for a collaborative approach and innovative solutions to tackle the feral cat crisis in San Antonio.
Working Together for the Cats
The sanctuary has been actively collaborating with other organizations like the San Antonio Feral Cat Coalition and the Humane Society to effectively manage feral cat populations. Feuge shares, “A lot of the time, if they have an unadoptable cat, we’ll take them in and trade them for cats that tend to be adoptable.” This partnership approach showcases the spirit of cooperation in tackling a pressing community issue.
Since its inception in 2021, Bear Den Sanctuary has received 1,300 calls for cat rescues, and it’s clear that the demand for their services continues to grow. With community backing, there’s hope for broader horizons for the sanctuary and the cats they care for. Feuge’s dedication is palpable, “We just need to go for it, expand, dream big, and know that it’s possible to save all these cats.”
As the countdown to The Big Give continues, the spirit of compassion and community is strong in San Antonio. Whether you’re a longtime supporter of the Bear Den Sanctuary or looking to get involved for the first time, your participation could help create lasting change and open doors for many more furry friends in need.
