“Santa Claws” Came To Town

Cafo (Cheshire Animal Fundraising Organisation) held their Christmas fair on Saturday at St. Barnabas Church Hall in West Street, Crewe.

Presenters from Sonnet Radio attended and provided music and it was a wonderfully festive atmosphere in the hall. If you want to listen to the show & interviews we broadcasted from the hall, click this link.

Many people came to browse and buy from the stalls, helping Cafo and the other various stall holders raise much needed funds. These funds go to pay vet bills for injured cats and for the ongoing vital care that the local rescues provide for animals, as well as for activities like scanning strays and tirelessly volunteering to rescuing animals at all hours of the day and night.

There were some great items for sale – handcrafted Christmas pompom wreaths, decorations & pet related items. Christmas cards featuring Noel the wonder cat, who was injured in an accident last year and helped back to recovery by Cafo and local rescue volunteers. Their new 2022 calendar features various cats that have been helped; like Acer, whose treatment is still ongoing.

The tombola, raffles and cake stalls were hugely popular and children were kept busy by looking for “Noel’s sprouts” on a trail around the hall or having a go at the hoopla.  “Santa Claws” was in attendance meeting children and giving out presents.  Bidding for a very large fully decorated Christmas tree brought some festive fun as the winner needed help to get it home!

Other charity stalls included:

Emergency Cat Hotel – cat rescue for Winsford and the local area – https://www.facebook.com/groups/519445604918330

Cotswold House – supported accommodation for homeless women and children in Weaver Vale – https://www.facebook.com/CotswoldHouseWinsford

Pawprints to Freedom – Our Safe Haven Kennels, Cheshire – dog kennels in Nantwich providing respite care, boarding, rescue and rehoming and were raising money with a tombola towards “Christmas dinner for the dogs in residence” – https://www.facebook.com/pptfsafehaven

Helping Winsford Paws – cat rescue in Winsford area –  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1029706297530376

The main Cafo information can be found at – https://www.facebook.com/Cafo-Cheshire-animal-fundraising-organisation-335482021227976/

There was a variety of other stalls selling crafts such as sock monkeys, jewellery, books, sweets, handbags, toiletries and personalised wooden gifts.

Money raised from all the stalls and various raffles brought in the following that is known at the time of writing:

Cafo – £1808.98
Helping Winsford Paws – £395
Emergency Cat Hotel – £295

A massive thank you to everyone involved who organised and supported the event by either donating items for sale, running the stalls or coming along to buy the many gifts available.  Special shout out to April Lysons, Sarah Lysons, Sue Steele, Gina O’Neill, Rach Maria James – and not forgetting the amazing cake bakers!