FORT SMITH (KFSM)-- Ella Harmon raised more than $3,300 with a lemonade stand and a church bake sale, and she gave every dollar to the Sebastian County Humane society.
Harmon said she loves animals, and when she heard about the humane society’s financial troubles, she knew she had to help.
“It was very heartbreaking, and I got really sad, so I wanted to help them,” Harmon said. “They`re filled with great animals, and I love animals, and I bet the world would be plain without animals.”
Joann Barton, executive director of the Sebastian County Humane Society said she can't believe the amount of support that has come from 8-year-old Harmon.
“I think it`s fabulous that they could raise that kind of money,” Barton said.
Barton said she can't explain what the support from the community has meant to her.
“You have to know the stories of the individual animals and how much effort that my staff has put into them to know what it means, and everyone here works so hard,” Barton said.
She said because of the help from the community, the humane society will be able to keep their doors open, but she said they still need help.
“We`ve got to get the basic community behind us and donate monthly,” Barton said. “That is the most important thing we can possibly do at this point is to get them to realize that that`s an on-going thing.”
Harmon isn't finished helping the humane society.
For her upcoming ninth birthday, but she said she does not want toys.
“Instead of getting presents, I want dog food and money for the animals,” Harmon said.
Harmon and her friends are also planning a pet food and toy drive.
Other people in the community are planning fundraisers benefiting the humane society.
Thursday night (August 20) Outback Steakhouse is donating 15% of their proceeds to the humane society.
There is also a 5K scheduled for August 29.