In our last post, Total Home Supply was urging companies across the country to use their holiday parties to collect items for their local food banks or animal shelters. We are now receiving feedback, and are happy to say that many businesses are having food drives and collecting money for the charities of their choice. There's still time, so let's keep the momentum going.

That post also acknowledged the need by animal rescue organizations and pet pantries for donations. One volunteer organization we would like to showcase is the non-profit Furrever Friends Rescue, located in southern New Jersey. This no-kill organization is run entirely by a volunteer staff and operates solely on donations.

At this time, Furrever Friends is striving to find homes for the many cats and kittens they are now fostering. The organization runs a pet adoption center out of the Petsmart in Deptford, NJ, and volunteers are there to assist potential adopters during most business hours.

Many of the cats at the foster homes have tested positive for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) which cannot be transferred to humans or dogs. These cats can live perfectly healthy lives, and can even live with other cats as long as they do not mate and get along with each other. At the moment Furrever Friends has six cats in foster care that are FIV positive, and some of these cats have been waiting for a home for several years.

As Board Secretary Jenna comments "In 2011, one of our goals is to encourage the adoption of cats who have tested positive for Feline Immunodifiency Virus (FIV). A disease that is 'somewhat' like HIV in humans. Hundreds of thousands of these healthy casts are euthanized at shelters each year in the US, simply due to the stigma and myths attached to the virus. The condition itself if not deadly."

Furrever Friends is always looking for volunteers and foster homes, as well as donations of supplies, and of course, cash. Check out their website to research the organization, see some of the cats up for adoption, read useful information about owning an animal or find links to other sites of interest to animal lovers.