ADREAM is a 501(c)3 non-profit disaster relief organization dedicated to helping care for pets and providing individuals/families with the essentials during a community-wide disaster. ADREAM currently services Catoosa, Hamilton, Murray, Walker, and Whitfield Counties.
We also operate a pet food pantry, Keita’s Kitchen, which provides food for dogs and cats to low-income individuals/families. This program is designed to assist individuals/families to keep pets they already have in their homes as part of their families. This program acts as relief when individuals/families have personal crises or disasters that leave them unable to care for their pets. Our goal is for no one to have to consider forfeiting their pets simply because they have fallen on hard times and personal funds are limited. Keita’s Kitchen services Catoosa, Hamilton, Murray, Walker, and Whitfield Counties.
These are our two primary programs currently, but we do have other programs developing. Please check out our ‘Programs’ section to find out about what programs are operational and which are developing for launch!
BEHIND THE SCENES
Meet the ladies behind the program.
Founder/President/C.E.O.
From a very young age Danielle (Dani) knew that working with animals was what she was meant to do. As a young girl and teenager she volunteered at local shelters and rescues taking every opportunity to work around animals of all kinds.
In 2011 disaster struck home when a tornado devastated local communities. Dani wanted so desperately to help that she enlisted the help of her older brother and they initially joined up with chainsaw crews helping clear paths to families and individuals cut off from supplies and help.
After several days she received an email from the local humane society where she volunteered calling for volunteers to man a donation drop off and distribution site for animals affected by the tornadoes. Dani immediately signed up for a shift and started helping with the site.
Soon enough other volunteers stopped coming and the site was threatened with closure so she decided she would man it herself to allow people access to desperately needed supplies. During this experience she met volunteers, board members, and directors of various animal welfare organizations from all around the area.
They asked her to join them in planning and collaborative meetings. Unsure of what role she was to play she agreed to participate in these meetings, where it was determined that long term assistance of this nature was needed for our area. The local organizations were worried that they would be unable to start a new such program due to staffing and funding.
Dani’s role was clear. A new organization was needed to provide ongoing assistance to individuals with pets who were struggling to keep their pets at home with them and to provide disaster response not just in the event of another large scale disaster but to help with the day to day disasters any family or individual could face.
So it was that ADREAM was founded in June 2011 to help try to fill these voids and promote collaboration between animal welfare organizations both big and small across city, county, and even state lines.
Secretary
Paula has always been an animal lover and an advocate for keeping them in the family. As a mother of many little ones (two and four-legged) she volunteers her time, when possible, as the Secretary of ADREAM. Paula has been a friend of Dani’s for a long time, and when Dani called for help she came running. “I love this organization for the fact that it helps so many people keep their loved ones in the family. I have seen first hand the amazing impact that Dani and this organization have had on families. There are so many pets that owners have had to surrender due to financial problems, and this organization works hard daily to ensure this isn’t an issue anymore!”
Event Coordinator
Rene’ has loved to be around animals and work with them all of her life. Family has always been central to her life. So when her daughter, Dani, decided to start ADREAM, it only seemed natural to combine these two loves, family and animals, by lending her help and support.
With over 45 years of experience in education, Rene’ brings real people skills to the table. This has helped in the development of various events and activities hosted by ADREAM. Life experiences have given her a unique understanding of the issues people often face in their personal lives, and how much difference a helping hand can make.
Throughout the growing pains inevitable in a new business she has endeavored to help find the answers needed to keep moving forward. Her belief in the value of this program to both individuals and the community as a whole is strong and unwavering.
She hopes to see a time when help is not needed, but until then, is ready and willing to continue her support of this worthy cause.
Testimonials
My family fell on hard times. We could not feed my family and my four dogs. I was heart broken at the thought of having to give up my babies, then I found ADREAM. Because of them I was able to feed my dogs and keep my family together. Today I am happy to say we are back on our feet and no longer need their assistance.
I wanted to take a minute to say how special ADREAM is. While my husband was out of work and I had just started a new job due to outsourcing of my job, I wasn’t making near the pay I had been bringing in. So I was told about ADREAM. They helped my fur babies make it through this rough time. I don’t know what I would have done without them. Not only did they help my fur babies but they made me feel welcomed. While I helped put the food donations together they helped me feel worthy not needy. The sweetest ladies you could find are in ADREAM. I appreciate ADREAM so much. Thank you ADREAM!
Although I only had the opportunity to have A.D.R.E.A.M help me and my furbabies out for a few months I can not express my gratitude. The women that run this organization are absolutely amazing and have given up their lives to help animals and their humans. I love the events we have and it makes it fun because the clients are included. Between bake sales, photo shoots, dog washes…..etc….we have a blast and its fun for the whole family including kids. I don’t know where my animals would be right now if it wasn’t for A.D.R.E.A.M. We wouldn’t be together I don’t think.
ADREAM is an amazing and wonderfully giving organization for people like me that struggle to feed our pets. ADREAM helps me each month with food for my 2 cats they are named Cashmere and Persistent aka Percy. If not for the work of this organization then I would not be able to keep my 2 precious babies. I have been amazed and so grateful for such a place as this.