What started as a wish to run in the Chicago Marathon ended as a large donation to PAWS of Tinley Park, the animal shelter at 8301 W. 191st St.
It was a journey Tinley Park resident Michelle Shapkauski never expected to take, but she couldn’t have asked for a better result.
When Shapkauski decided to attempt to run in the Chicago Marathon, her first challenge was to raise $1,500 for a charity as her entrance fee. She chose PAWS Chicago, as the thought of helping animals appealed to her. She then paid a visit to PAWS of Tinley Park in order to gain some inspiration for her cause. Shapkauski was disheartened to discover that each PAWS was independent and the money she was raising would never reach the Tinley Park animals. She decided right then that she needed to collect enough money to donate to both shelters.
Shapkauski had the idea to make coin banks. She made them from shipping tubes and designed a fun label for them. Shapkauski, her two daughters and their friends decorated 200 cans.
“It was fun to get the kids together to make the cans,” Shapkauski said. “They were all excited about helping to raise money for PAWS.”
Her 10-year-old daughter, Chloe, even pitched in by asking her friends for donations for PAWS instead of birthday presents.
“We held a bake sale in front of Pooches N’ Purrs Pet Salon in Tinley Park and asked people if they would take a can to help collect,” Shapkauski said. “A Tinley woman named Paula Michaels approached me and suggested that I ask local businesses to put the cans out. She offered to help distribute them with us.”
I had a chance to meet and talk with Michaels, who told me that she does fundraising for the American Cancer Society all the time.
“I was more than happy to help,” Michaels said. “PAWS is a great cause.”
About half the cans went to friends and family and half to local businesses, Shapkauski said.
“Everyone was receptive to the idea and no one turned me down,” she said.
At the beginning of October, when Shapkauski collected the cans back from everyone, she never could have guessed the amount of money they held.
“I guess I was expecting coins,” Shapkauski said. “But what I found was cash. More than I ever expected.”
Through the efforts of Shapkauski, her family, friends and many generous people, she was able to present PAWS of Tinley Park with a check for $4,000 as well as $1,675 to PAWS Chicago.
Shapkauski, her children, their friends and Paula Michaels presented the check to John Greenan, of PAWS of Tinley Park, on Oct. 9.
“We are so grateful to be receiving this,” Greenan said. “We run strictly on donations, so we are very fortunate to live in a community where everyone is so supportive. We are usually a dog’s last chance, and the more resources we can get from the community, the more dogs we can save in the long run.”
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Shapkauski said she would like to take on the task again next year.
“I never expected this kind of response,” she said. “It was definitely worth it.”
Julie Dekker is a freelance writer who covers the Tinley Park community.