HATS volunteers Stefanie Westmoreland and Tim O’Brien.

When Stefanie Westmoreland bought a farm in 2014, she didn’t expect that adopting a few barn cats would turn into a lifelong commitment to animal welfare. Nor did Tim O’Brien expect that collecting signatures for a no-kill shelter petition — at the urging of his wife — would draw him into a mission he’s now spent nearly a decade supporting. But today, both serve as dedicated leaders for Helping Animals to Survive (HATS), a Lincoln County nonprofit working to improve the lives of animals and the people who love them.

Thanks to a 2024 grant from Foundation For The Carolinas’ Community Impact Funds, HATS is growing its reach and changing more lives than ever.

A Local Lifeline for Pets and People

For many families, HATS provides more than just services — it provides hope. The nonprofit’s programs include regular pet adoptions, low-cost vaccine clinics, food and supply distribution and trap-neuter-return (TNR) efforts. In addition, its beloved “No Cold Pets” initiative delivers pet shelters to families with outdoor animals, along with thousands of pounds of donated pet food. Last year alone, HATS gave out more than 120 shelters and over 17,000 pounds of food to local families.

“Our mission is simple — keep pets in homes and out of shelters,” said Westmoreland, HATS board chair. “We want to remove the barriers that force people to surrender animals they love. Whether that’s through food, straw, medical care or a temporary shelter, we’ll do whatever we can.”

Community vaccine clinics, supported in part by FFTC’s grant, are a key example. At a recent event, dozens of families lined up for free services.

“It’s truly a blessing,” said Heather, who brought her energetic boxer mix, Dixie, for vaccinations. “This takes a huge financial burden off of families like ours.”

Another attendee, Sheniqua, smiled as she described her 5-month-old goldendoodle, Penny: “She brings our family so much joy, especially my grandmother, who has dementia. Penny lights her up. Knowing there’s help to keep Penny healthy and thriving means everything.”

Grantmaking that Grows Local Impact

HATS was one of seven nonprofits awarded a grant through Foundation For The Carolinas’ 2024 Community Impact Funds, which collectively distributed $109,000 across the foundation’s 13-county region.

Unlike donor-advised funds, Community Impact Funds are composed of discretionary assets — unrestricted gifts entrusted to FFTC, often through estate plans, that empower the foundation to address changing needs in real time. FFTC’s grantmaking experts work closely with community members to award these funds where they are most needed, with many decisions happening through the foundation’s network of regional affiliates.

One of HATS services is providing free pet food for the community.

“Discretionary funding allows us to be both strategic and nimble,” said Sara Piner, senior vice president, Philanthropic Advancement at FFTC. “Grants can support long-term community goals or help in times of crisis. In HATS’ case, it’s doing both.”

The grant has already helped save lives. One of those lives belongs to Athena, a 9-month-old German Shepherd puppy who needed emergency medical care. Thanks to the funding, HATS was able to provide the treatment that saved her.

Powered by Volunteers, Fueled by Passion

HATS is entirely volunteer-driven, and the organization’s leaders are the first to say that its success depends on community support.

“If we had more volunteers, we could expand our programs significantly,” said Westmoreland. “Everything we do, from weekly adoptions at PetSmart to our spay/neuter transport program, is made possible by people giving their time.”

HATS volunteers at mobile vaccine clinic.

Tim O’Brien, who has served as both board chair and longtime volunteer, hopes the organization will one day open a dedicated spay/neuter clinic in Lincoln County and build capacity to offer medical support to more pets in crisis.

“My dream has always been to provide affordable veterinary care to families who wouldn’t otherwise have access,” he said. “This grant is a big step toward that.”

Whether it’s a warm shelter in the winter, a vaccine that prevents illness or the peace of mind that comes from knowing your furry family member has the care they need, HATS is proving that helping animals means helping people, too.

To learn more about HATS or get involved as a volunteer, visit hatsalive.org.