50 Duke Energy Volunteers Transform Terre Haute Animal Shelter

Fifty Duke Energy employees spent their day off building, painting, and cleaning to help animals find their forever homes.

During Duke Energy in Action Day, volunteers descended on the Terre Haute Humane Society to tackle projects the shelter had been struggling to complete. They relocated yard barns, cleaned gutters and kennels, and gave the lobby a fresh coat of paint.

Ray Buechler, president of the humane society's board of directors, said the help came at a critical time. "It really helps us do things that we either don't have the expertise to do, or just the manpower to do it," he explained.

The work wasn't just about labor. For projects like tree removal and painting, the shelter would normally need to hire contractors. That cost adds up quickly for a nonprofit that depends on donations to keep its doors open.

Duke Energy partnered with Townsend Tree Service and Republic Services to provide additional support for the day's projects. The collaboration meant the shelter could check off its entire wish list in just one day.

The Ripple Effect

When animal shelters can redirect funds from maintenance to care, every animal benefits. The money the Terre Haute Humane Society saved on these projects can now go toward veterinary care, food, and programs that help more pets find homes.

Corporate volunteer days like this one create a model other companies can follow. One day of coordinated effort delivered months of progress for an organization that serves the community's most vulnerable animals.

The volunteers didn't just improve buildings. They improved the daily lives of shelter staff who can now focus their energy on caring for animals instead of fixing gutters. They gave the animals a cleaner, safer environment while they wait for their new families.

Fifty people proved that showing up matters, and the animals of Terre Haute are better off because they did.