posted on Thursday, March 02, 2017
HEARTS OF GOLD:
KARI TESTORY AND MATTHEW MEMISHEE
by Lana Richmond, CCHS Volunteer
While staff members at the humane society work tirelessly to help our animals, there are many volunteers who do so as well. Meet two CCHS volunteers with hearts of gold.
To say Kari Testory and Matt Memishee have hearts of gold is an understatement. This couple has a heart for animals that was evident in the first 3 minutes of conversation with them.
They support the Champaign County Humane Society in a variety of ways, including monthly donations, filling up a shopping cart (several times a year) with goodies for the animals, special
events (such as the recent WCIA drive-through donation drive), responding to emergency needs, and CCHS annual events, like the Fur ball. Last year was the first in which they donated
an item for the Fur Ball Silent Auction to raise money for the animals.
When asked why they support CCHS, their answers were selfless: “The animals have no voice,” “I love animals,” “They need the money more than me,” and “I’d give my last dollar for an animal in need.” They are grateful for the many ways CCHS helps animals. They recognize the significant costs involved with keeping a shelter open. In their words “the need is constant.”
Matt and Kari have 2 cats of their own; Oscar and Hewey. Oscar is 11 and has 3 legs due to an amputation he needed as a kitten. It never affected his love for life, his playful attitude, or his ability to bring joy to theirs. Hewey is a 12-year-old, very sweet girl. She follows Matt around and has claimed him as her own. Matt and Kari would love to have more cats, but recognize their limits, so choose to give to organizations such as CCHS. If you are out at a local pet store, you might see them visiting the animal rescue agencies on site and dropping dollars into the jars. In fact, they have recently been accepted as foster parents for a Bulldog rescue group.
It seems as if helping animals is their life calling. Their deep love for animals and commitment to do the right thing for those that have no voice proves that they really do have hearts of gold.
Thank you, Matt and Kari!