MANAWATU LOCAL ANNOUNCED AS SPCA PURINA VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
Manawatu local, Yvette Craven, has been named as the SPCA Purina Volunteer of the Year for 2017.
Entries for the award were received from SPCA volunteers across the country and narrowed down to a shortlist of seven
finalists.
Purina NZ Head of Marketing, Jennifer Chappell, said, “The Purina team strongly believe that pets and people are better
together – enabling each to lead happier and healthier lives. We are humbled by volunteer stories like Yvette’s and we
are proud to be sponsoring this awards and recognising such deserving people.”
For the past twelve years, Yvette has been a valued member of the Manawatu SPCA.
During the centre’s busiest time – kitten season – the staff say it’s a relief to see Yvette walk through the door. SPCA
New Zealand CEO (Acting), Andrea Midgen, said, “She will happily go about doing afternoon litter changes, feeding,
dishes, cutting up rags or blankets, talking to the cats and anything else that she thinks need doing. If the Centre is
ever short staffed, she will come in early and do almost anything she can to help.”
Manawatu SPCA Centre Manager, Katie Pedersen, said, “Volunteers tend to come and go for many different reasons and when
you get a great volunteer you just want to do anything you can to hang onto them. Thank goodness she stuck around for
all these years! The current staff at the SPCA are so grateful to have her around because she helps take the pressure
off. To have a volunteer around that can be left to help get the job done has a huge impact on the workload.”
“The SPCA Purina Volunteer of the Year Awards aim to recognise the fantastic efforts of our volunteers nationwide.
Without volunteer support, the SPCA simply could not function said Ms Midgen.
The Awards are sponsored by Nestlé Purina PetCare, a principal partner of SPCA – supplying more than 80,000kg of dog and
cat food annually.
As the winner of the SPCA Purina Volunteer of the Year Yvette has won a one year supply of PURINA ONE cat food and a
$1,000 Prezzy Card.
SPCA would like to thank all of its volunteers for their outstanding support, and encourages others to be involved by
getting in touch with their local SPCA.
ENDS