Last June, in a desperate plea for support, I posted a blog; A Cry for help. I received numerous emails and offers, and at that time, more than I could handle. (I believe I still have some of those in a *saved* folder to contact in the future). I tried to reply to the emails,  but with not having the time to organize my offers, I left many unanswered.  However, Kim had a personal connection (her husband, Garrett works with my husband) and when we first moved into the Barracks, they donated two big beautiful dog beds. Joe had told me at that time, that they lost their dog, Rocky, and those were Rocky’s  dog beds. I felt t their loss, as any *dog parent* does,  sad but yet grateful for their thoughtfulness. I remember Kim Saks email, sent June 6^th (days after my blog), she mentioned a multitude of areas that she would like to help; fundraising, promotions, proof reading…..her background ranging from running the Woman’s Center at EMU to her Law degree.    It took two months from that email for us to actually meet….

I remember that morning. I had just returned from a 72 hour stay at the Barracks. I was exhausted, crabby and smelled (no shower at Barracks). I had 24hours at home, my *off time*.  All I wanted to do was catch up on house duties (laundry/cleaning), spend time with Joe (husband) and my own neglected dogs. I woke with a head-ache and almost called to cancel with Kim several times.  It was a hot humid August morning; we planned on meeting outside, in the shade.  I drove up as Kim was walking into her back yard, the sun rising through the thick humid haze cast a glow around Kim. (I now know that the glow wasn’t from the humidity, but it was her Angel Halo sparkling). Her dog, Brooklyn, immediately captured my attention, she reminded me so much of Honor! Tears filled my eyes (for the first time that morning) thinking of Honor, as she was recently paired and I was missing her something bad.  As we sat to talk, I was trying to ignore Brooklyn, I couldn’t look at her or I was going to break down in a huge sob! I had to get a grip! Kim was talking about what she used to do, her background and why she wanted to help. It all seems like a blur now, until she reached down, opened her lap top and had a Power Point presentation for me. Yup, she had everything detailed, the research she did on our organization, on other organizations like ours. What she thought we were lacking, the areas we needed to improve, and how to get there. Tears were flowing for the 2^nd time that morning now, and there was no hiding it. My headache was going away; I was sitting up straighter, and for the first time in months, sighed a huge breath! Kim had some wonderful new ideas and some of the same ideas I have had but had no one to implement them. Not only did she have this all planned out nicely on  a spread sheet; she also had it organized by what I needed to do, weekly and monthly for the next year!!!!  Yes, you will need a moment to process it all……………I did!

I proudly introduce to you-Kim Saks, now a Board Member and our Development Coordinator. Kim Saks, single-handedly, started and maintained our Chip In Program. Yes, it had some minor difficulties, setting it up and running it, but she managed to raise over $2,000 to help train our last class.  Kim was the *voice* behind the blogs , writing them from the dogs view point. This was brilliant, amusing and functional!  Kim made sure she came to the Barracks, spent time with the dogs so she could write them properly. While developing a relationship with the dogs but also with our Veterans. Developing our donor base is really Kim’s main goal, as she also started Friends of Stiggy’s! Creating a way for our fans to be a part of our mission!  This isn’t all either……. In the past three months Kim has, written emails much needed, create marketing materials, using her Law degree to make sure our ‘bases were covered’, helped set up  policies and procedures, AND wrote our Annual Report!!! Phew!  People’s paths cross for a reason, and Stiggy’s Dogs is more than blessed that Kim’s crossed ours.

As Stiggy’s Dogs takes this Annual Training Time to build, grow and better ourselves….. we do this with a powerful force behind us, Kim Saks. Personally I have met a wonderful new friend that I feel lucky to know. Professionally, Kim is the silent strength behind Stiggy’s….