The NOAH Foundation joyfully celebrates 25 years of giving to local animal welfare organizations
The NOAH Foundation—a thrift store benefitting Neglected, Orphaned, Abused, Homeless animals—is celebrating 25 years.
Although Billie Herrick and her daughter Lauren originally opened NOAH on Montezuma Street in 1993, it closed and reopened in 1999 in its current location on the corner of Walker Road and Granite Street.
During the move, female volunteers including Julie Awen could be seen moving items from the original store to the current facility, where today it remains after 25 years. In early spring of 2009 when the building next to NOAH became available for rent, NOAH TOO was born.
Both stores offer slightly used second-hand items from donations … and feature a mature, mostly retired, all-female volunteer group of smiling faces as cashiers. Their primary goal: to raise money to donate to local animal organizations. How they love to tell tales of where some of the items came from or what they would do with them if they bought them.
The volunteers are the store’s best customers; they attend local events all spruced up in NOAH clothing and accessories. One volunteer said, “We’re walking advertisements for our namesake.”
A couple of male volunteers help by lifting furniture and delivering and picking up heavy items.
On average, the NOAH Foundation donates to 10 organizations each year; in 2023 year-end profits of $190,000, which was divided among the following:
- AARF Animal Rescue and Sanctuary
- Animal Disaster Services
- Blue Moon Rescue & Sanctuary
- Canine Rescue & Adoptions
- Circle L Ranch
- Community Cats (Catty Shack)
- Dog Tree Pines, LLC
- EEE (Equine Emergency Evacuation)
- Heritage Park Zoo and Sanctuary
- For the Love of Hoof
- T.A.I.L.S. Rescue
- Yavapai Humane Trappers
- United Animal Friends (UAF)
If NOAH raised $190,000 in 2023, and “daily sales have almost tripled in the past 5 years,” imagine how much this group has donated over the past 25 years; a phenomenal amount since 1999, to say the least!
Certainly, in some years the profits were lower; in some years NOAH has had to dig into its reserve fund. But overall, they can say, “It’s been a good year.”
NOAH’s sales all come from community donations … which is why NOAH extends a big “thank you” to the community for contributing to its ever-increasing goal annually.
Over the years, NOAH has had outstanding, awesome managers, some of whom left for greener pastures out of state. For example, after 12 years with NOAH, Terry Heindrick, (a fiery redhead) moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas, where she volunteers at a cat sanctuary; Susan Smart remains in Prescott devoting her time to Community Cats (aka Catty Shack); and you can still see Shannon Leyden bouncing around town. Lauren Looney was a NOAH mainstay for 10 years. She now resides in Palm Desert, California.
Today the helm is being managed by two individuals filling that awesome mold synonymous with NOAH managers: Gail Barrish (two years) and Brienna Cleary (five years).
Lasting friendships such as the one between Charlotte Frola, Jackie Sweginnis, and Marilyn Carrodi, the Three Musketeers, have brought volunteers to NOAH. Jean Isom (age 95 today) not only volunteered at NOAH for many years, but simultaneously had the same volunteer spirit at the Prescott Public Library. And Verle York (age 90+) volunteers each week at the NOAH store since 2010. (Psst, don’t tell her we mentioned her age.)
Cindy Lamont now owns Dog Tree Pines, a sanctuary for senior dogs living their lives to the end with open spaces and friends. Bev Hinton has been with NOAH for 19 years; followed by Pamela Harsha, 18+ years; then there’s Charley (Charlene) Arruda and Kathy Lucas with 15 years under their belts. (Incidentally, Charley has worked the same day, same time, same store for her 15-year tenure.) Marilyn Standish has graced the counter for 12+ years. Paula Oatley has retiled a storage/bathroom by herself, and when a plumbing problem occurs in the building, it is not uncommon for Brie Cleary to “plunge in” and fix the issue. Volunteering is in all of these ladies’ blood.
The Board of Directors are all females, too: Susan Kohler, Chairwoman; Pam Spearling; Julie Auwen; Carol McClean; and Becky Salazar. Julie Auwen, Board member, has held all positions over the years at NOAH. (Remember she helped move NOAH into its new building). She started as a volunteer; then became a manager, and now is back to being a volunteer extraordinaire again.
Over the years, NOAH volunteers have had former careers in teaching, accounting, high-level government positions; they’ve been the wives of doctors, dentists, Colonels and Generals. Some have been secretaries, nurses, and homemakers. The diverse list goes on. All of these women have one passion: to help canines, felines, equines, etc., find or have a better home and/or life in this world.
Why? Because animals are so giving, and in return, these volunteers want to do just that—give back to the animals. And 25 years of giving will continue. Our hats are off to all of these phenomenal women.
NOAH is always looking for qualified volunteers. If you think you can fill these shoes, stop by and fill out an application. There’s always room for one more volunteer.
The NOAH Foundation stores are at 603 S. Granite Street in Prescott. For more information, call 928.708.0545.