As of Monday, a long run at one location for a good cause has come to an end.
For 28 years, the St. Croix Animal Shelter has operated its flea market out of a building in Gallows Bay. But Mary Edwards, executive director of the shelter, said the non-profit group's long-time benefactor, Robert Armstrong, needs to tear the building down.
"The flea market is the backbone of our fund-raising efforts and we will be in severe financial trouble without it," Edwards said. "We are searching for new space."
And preferably that would be donated space, Edwards said, adding, however, that the shelter is willing to negotiate.
"We require about 3,000 square feet. The revenue from the flea market accounts for about 10 percent to 15 percent of the shelter's operating expenses," Edwards said. "We have not received any contract money from the V.I. government for fiscal year 1998-99, so we can't count on that. We are doing the best we can fund raising. We make
no money on animal adoptions."
Edwards said that donating a space for the Animal Shelter Flea Market is tax deductible and that the market's popularity draws people to wherever it is located.
For more information, call the shelter at 778-1650.
