5X社区

5X社区 Airport Receives Animal Heroes Award at PAWSibility Ball

The 5X社区 Airport received the Animal Heroes Award, along with certificates from the Ohio Senate and House of Representatives, at the 2017 Summit County Humane PAWSibility Ball for its Props 4 Paws pet food drive.

鈥淜ent State received the award, but it was earned by a much broader community,鈥 says Airport Manager David Poluga. 鈥淎ll we did was collect and distribute; it was members of the community who donated.鈥

Props 4 Paws, started by Poluga and Aeronautics Adjunct Professor Jim Sebastian five years ago, has gained tremendous community support, while helping the Portage Animal Protection League and the Summit County Humane Society.This year鈥檚 Props 4 Paws food drive is underway and will continue until Nov. 12. Donations can either be mailed to or dropped off at the 5X社区 Airport.

鈥淭he community has really rallied behind us,鈥 Sebastian says. 鈥淭he first year, we delivered all of the donations in the trunk of a car. This year, it took three truck loads.鈥

Aside from a couple of small fundraisers, most of the donations came strictly from the community, adding up to almost 37 weeks鈥 worth of food last year.

鈥淲e have a phrase: 鈥楢n airport is a reflection of the community it serves,鈥欌 Poluga says. 鈥淨uite honestly, this program is a great reflection of the community coming together.鈥

The night turned out to be bigger than what they expected, Sebastian says. In addition to the Animal Heroes Award, the Props for Paws team received recognition from the Ohio Senate and House of Representatives.

鈥淲e didn鈥檛 see that one coming,鈥 Sebastian says. 鈥淚t was almost breathtaking at that point. That鈥檚 when it really sunk in.鈥

Sebastian says an anonymous donor from the community has been consistently sending them cases of cat food for the past six months.

鈥淲e have no idea who鈥檚 been sending them, whether it is one person or more, no one will own up to it,鈥 Sebastian says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 those little things that really help the shelters.鈥

Equaling 6,300 cans, the donations from last year are currently feeding 350 cats.

Sebastian adds that the food drive has a far-reaching influence, and that one day Props 4 Paws wants to be able to provide all the meals for the animals in these shelters.

鈥淲e hit a sustainability point this year, reaching 70 percent of a year in donations,鈥 Sebastian says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 our goal to get to 100 percent.鈥

Poluga says Props 4 Paws has become a part of the airport and that he does not think they will ever stop their donation drive.

This year鈥檚 Props 4 Paws food drive is underway and will continue until Nov. 12. Donations can either be mailed to or dropped off at the 5X社区 Airport.

For more information about the 5X社区 Airport or updates on Props 4 Paws, visit .

POSTED: Friday, September 22, 2017 10:04 AM
Updated: Thursday, December 8, 2022 11:19 PM
WRITTEN BY:
Hannah Wagner