There are many worthy causes to give to in Cass County.
Emmaus Mission Center is one of the gems of the community and executive director Jason Mitchell and his crew do so much for those who need assistance.
There is also the United Way of Cass County, an organization that gives much to the community but many still don’t understand their mission or know the many ways it impacts Logansport.
There are four great schools within the community with students active in programs that could use a bit of a financial boost. There are also opportunities to help students and families who are in need within those school corporations.
For those who might be looking for nonprofits to support in the area during the holiday season, here are five that play important roles in Cass County that could use a helping a hand.
A Cause for Paws
A Cause for Paws is a small local organization that offers cats and dogs for adoption. Each Saturday, The Pharos-Tribune features a potential pet from A Cause for Paws and the group showcases other available options on their Facebook page.
The nonprofit is frequently in need of dry and wet cat food, dry dog food and litter.
Anyone who would like to contribute to A Cause for Paws or may be interested in adopting a pet may call 574-753-5575.
Cass County Humane Society
The Cass County Humane Society welcomed Ashley Ayers as its new executive director this year.
The humane society has been packed with cats and dogs and has a variety of needs in terms of care products and materials for planned projects.
Products needed by the humane society include slip leashes for dogs, water and food pails that attach to kennel doors so that they prevent spillage, cat waterers that can attach to crate doors, grain free dog food—preferably sweet potato and rice for dogs with food sensitivities, Purina Kitten Chow dry food (yellow bag), Pate wet food, lysine powder, Nutri-cal High Calorie Gel (Tomlyn) malt flavor, Liqui-Tinic 4X, puppy pads, KMR milk replacer or goat milk, paper towels, B12 supplements, Rebound, Hydra Care for cats and six ounce paper food trays.
Project needs are conversion of the shelter’s adoptable cat area into an indoor catio, PVC pipes of varying sizes, PVC fittings (elbows, tees, connectors), screws and zip-ties, wire mesh, scrap wood for shelves and climbing features, screen or screen-type door for the kitten nursery room (former front office) so that employees and volunteers can easily see and interact with kittens and a deep clean of the shelter.
The Cass County Humane Society is located at is located at 700 Water St. and can be reached at 574- 516-1526.
Logansport Art Association
The Logansport Art Association is one of the oldest art associations in Indiana and each year they host classes, exhibits and contests for local and aspiring artists.
The LAA can always use stretched canvas of all sizes, acrylic paint, liquid watercolor, sharpies, copy paper, glue, paper towels and baggies, said president Jane Vandermark Williams.
The organization is looking for volunteers who might be able to help brighten up the porch with a new coat of paint or furniture. The garage also needs a few repairs.
The Logansport Art Association is located at 424 Front St. and can be reached at 574-735-2915.
Logansport Junior Civic Theater
The Junior Civic Theater has a plethora of needs when it comes to their base of operations, located at 408 E. Broadway. The most urgent need is a new roof.
Samantha Boller Hunnicutt recently recalled walking into the building one day and finding a puddle of water on their stage. Because the building has a flat roof, repairs are estimated to cost approximately $50,000.
The JCT building would never be considered cozy, and that’s something Boller Hunnicutt understood when the organization accepted the building as a donation.
Another major need is air conditioning and heating. During the summer, the young actors sweat through practice and their rehearsal before the Light Up Logansport parade featured quite a few kids in coats.
Sure, the building must have been some respite in between two outdoor performances on a frigid Saturday, but fifty degrees is only a small consolation after singing and dancing in twenty-degree temperatures.
Goals that fall more into the category of wants than needs given the state of the roof include finished walls and eventually, studio mirrors to put on those walls for choreography purposes.
The Logansport Junior Civic Theater can be reached at logansportjct@gmail.com.
Stand Up Cass County
Stand Up Cass County has worked hard during 2024 to provide local teens support and education on issues like mental health and substance abuse. The program hosts afterschool activities for young people and their families like free skating at Logansport Skate World and Fun Center, family movies at the Mary Max Cinema, gaming at Black Dog and more.
Stand Up Cass County is currently looking to 100 percent match a $125,000 grant to help them host activities. They are limited in the ways they can use the funding so they could use donations that could also go to providing food at events and meetings, printing, hiring speakers and for Red Ribbon Week activities. Red Ribbon Week is a national drug prevention program that local school’s participate in.
The nonprofit would also accept donations that could be used as gifts and prizes for those who attend events.
For more about the organization, visit standupcasscounty.org or email nikki@ysainc.org.