Online concert on May 8 will raise funds for local pet food drive

In early March, Birch Bay resident Samantha Syrnich decided to organize a food drive for dogs and cats, something she has done several times in the past. Since then, the food drive has made little progress due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s why she is now teaming up with a singer-songwriter to hold an online concert fundraiser for the food drive. Proceeds from the fundraiser will help feed local dogs and cats and support two local nonprofits, Rescued Hearts Northwest and Whatcom Feline Alliance (WFA).

“I have not received very many donations so far during this year’s pet food drive,” Syrnich said. “People had their minds on the pandemic, and dog and cat food was hard to find online for a little while. But now, we’ve been in this pandemic long enough that people will hopefully start to take notice and think about dogs and cats in need. I hope this fundraiser will kind of rev up the food drive.”

The online concert fundraiser will take place on Friday, May 8 at 4 p.m. and will feature a performance by Tai Shan, a singer-songwriter who lives in Nashville, Tennessee. Syrnich met Tai Shan at the Birch Bay Music Festival in 2016, which Syrnich helped organize. “Ever since then we’ve kept in touch,” Syrnich said. “She’s just a wonderful person.”

The concert will be live-streamed on Facebook at facebook.com/taishanmusicpersonal. Syrnich will also stream the concert on her personal Facebook page, facebook.com/samantha.syrnich. During the concert, viewers will be able to click on links to donate.

Those who wish to make a donation can also do so using PayPal (paypal.me/taishanmusic) or Venmo (@taishanmusic). Donations of pet food can be dropped off to the Birch Bay Activity Center, 7511 Gemini Street or Syrnich’s residence at 4667 Loft Lane in Birch Bay. Amazon purchases can also be shipped directly to either address.

Syrnich hopes that local residents will donate pet food, toys, treats, puppy pads, litter and supplies. For dogs, she is specifically requesting Nutro, Victor and other high-quality brands of dog food. For cats, she is requesting dry and hard cat food, as well as pine pellet cat litter.

After the food drive concludes, Syrnich will load up her van with supplies and deliver them to WFA, Rescued Hearts Northwest and local pets in need. While volunteering through the local Facebook COVID-19 helpers group, she has discovered that many people are struggling to afford pet food. She hopes to turn her pet food drive into a year-round endeavor, so that people will always have a place to donate if they want to help local animals.

“I just want to help as many animals as I can, so we’ll see how it goes,” she said.