The Voorhees Animal Orphanage (VAO) will hold its 27thAnnual Woofstock Festival on Saturday, Sept. 23, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Voorhees Town Center (rain date is Sunday,Sept. 24). It is the biggest fundraising event of the year for the Animal Orphanage. This year, the Camden County Commissioners are again partnering in the event.
Woofstock is a day-long, outdoor festival that celebrates community and pets. It is a family friendly, fun-filled day with something for everyone, even your four-legged furry friends. You can shop among many different vendors. The last Woofstock had over 125 artisans, craft, retail and informational booths. There will be gourmet food trucks, animal rescue groups (many with adoptable animals) and a gigantic gift basket raffle pavilion. It is a day where your well-behaved pets are more than welcome to attend and stroll the festival site with you. Enjoymusic, dog demonstrations, a beer garden, a humongous gift basket raffle pavilion, the ever-popular VAO Alumni Parade and much more! Admission is a $2 donation. Children under 5 are admitted free.
The Voorhees Animal Orphanage is a municipal animal shelter serving 29 towns in southern NJ, including Voorhees. They provide compassionate shelter and adoption services for the animals entrusted to their care with a goal of safely reuniting the animals with their owners or finding them suitable and permanent new homes.
Since 1988, the Animal Orphanage has been providing shelter, food and medical care to stray and unwanted animals until permanent homes can be found. Each year, the Animal Orphanage takes in nearly 2,000 abandoned, unwanted stray and owner relinquished animals and rescues hundreds of adoptable animals from high kill shelters along the east coast. Over 35,000 lives have been saved since 1988. Every animal in the shelter receives individual consideration, whether the animals are healthy, elderly, sick or injured. The shelter and its volunteers care for approximately 150-200 animals on a daily basis.
In 2020, the VAO celebrated the completion of its much–needed new facility located at 419 Cooper Road. Programs include an animal shelter and adoption center, a re-homing program,participation in the Camden County Pet Food Pantry, a foster care program, a low-cost spay and neuter program and volunteer opportunities.
For more information about Woofstock or the Animal Orphanage, visit theanimalorphanage.org, email info@vaonj.orgor call (856) 627-9111.
** Voorhees Township is offering discounted tickets for Morey’s Amusement Piers and Water Parks located on the Boardwalk in Wildwood, NJ. Tickets may be obtained in person from the Office of the Voorhees Township Clerk (856) 429-7757 and are payable by CASH ONLY. Tickets are available to residents and non-residents. The tickets do not expire.
** The Animal Welfare Association will host its “Luminaries for Lost Loves” event on Wednesday, Sept. 13 from 6pm-8pm to view luminaries and celebrate their lives. There will be a certified Pet Bereavement Counselor, therapy dogs, refreshments and more.
Donate to AWA $10 per luminary and your pet’s luminary will be displayed outside of AWA’s shelter on September 13th for Pet Remembrance Day and shine all evening. You can purchase your luminary at https://tinyurl.com/3k87tm35
For more information, contact Meggin Olivo at (856)424-2288 x113 or (609)706-984.
**The Vorhees Art Commission is hosting auditions for the “Voorhees Got Talent” competition. Singers, dancers, actors, musicians, poets, bands or any special talents are welcome. Auditions are on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 4pm and on Sunday, Sept. 24 at 4pm at the Voorhees Town Center. You will receive your number after registration. The location is the Atrium of the Voorhees Town Center, below Town Hall. Scan the QR code in the graphics or click
https://forms.gle/1MAEQyon333qKLESA for the registration form. Both auditions are on a first come- first serve basis and space is limited. The semifinals will be held on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 4PM at the Voorhees Town Center. The finals will be held during Voorhees Township’s Tree Lighting Ceremony. (Date to be announced.) Prizes: 1st Place $1000, 2nd Place $500, 3rd Place $250. For more information, contact Gabrielle Horvitz at ghorvitz1@gmail.com
** Live Jazz Night featuring Budesa Brothers and Jerry Tannenbaum is on Friday, Sept. 29 at 6:30pm at the Voorhees Town Center courtyard. Bring your chairs and blankets and wrap up the summer with this classic jazz trio – organ, guitar and drums. The Beer Garden and food trucks will open at 5:30pm. Bring your lawn chairs or blankets. For more information about this free event, visit voorheesnj.com or call the Show Hot Line at 856-882-SHOW.
**The Voorhees Breakfast Rotary Club is hosting a Voorhees Community Yard Sale on Saturday, Sept. 30 from 10am to 2pm in the Voorhees Town Center parking lot.
All residents are welcome to participate. Cost is $25 for two parking spaces. To sign up and for more information, contact Bob Scapicchio at my67pony@aol.com or Susan Bromley at sbromley14@gmail.com
** The Voorhees Arts Commission presents the “Healing Art for a Hero’s Heart” free community event on Saturday, Sept. 30 from 11:30am-1:30pm at the Voorhees Town Center Mall Food Court. Paint holiday greeting cards for deployed soldiers, meet special guests from the Tri-State Canine Response Team and enjoy Sal Vito’s delicious hoagies. For more information, contact Amy Bash at amymarks1@yahoo.com or call 856-979-9585.
