Shepherd University alumna Debra Hunsucker, left, and Nikole Hilbert, of Shepherdstown, purchased a hyacinth plant from the Easter Flower Sale to support the Animal Welfare Society on Friday afternoon. Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN – Despite the hindrance of steady rain on Friday, the Animal Welfare Society volunteers and board members held fast to their goal of raising money to support their organization’s efforts, moving the Easter flowers for their annual Easter Flower Sale inside of Town Run Tap House and Community Pub.

According to AWS Board Vice President Jane Tarner, the sale is one of a number of fundraising events that help AWS support its many initiatives, including adoption and rescue services, low cost rabies clinics, spay/neuter coupons and education programs.

“We always used to do it at Domino’s, and there was no way to get out of the weather there, so this is a nice location. We’re very thankful Todd let us set up in here,” Tarner said. “Our sales depend on the weather, really. If we have good weather, we tend to sell more flowers.”

While AWS also holds a Mother’s Day Flower Sale in May, Tarner said the two sales have different flowers, which are purchased from Sunny Meadows Greenhouse in Boonsboro, Maryland. This weekend’s sale sported mums, tulips, lilies, hydrangeas, hyacinths and mini roses.

“We have pretty much been doing it for over 25 years, although the types of flowers we sell have changed over that time to reflect customer preferences,” Tarner said, mentioning AWS has one major reason it stocks up on popular flowers. “We have to sell it all, we don’t like to sell it another day – two days is enough. We probably buy 100-150 flowers for each sale.”

The Animal Welfare Society's Easter Flower Sale gave community members the opportunity to buy flowers and support a good cause this weekend. Tabitha Johnston

For Shepherd University alumna Debra Hunsucker, visiting the sale inspired her to support AWS again at the Mother’s Day Flower Sale – in a big way.

“This is actually the first time we’ve come to this event,” Hunsucker said, after browsing through the flower selections with future daughter-in-law Nikole Hilbert. “We need lots of flowers, because they’re getting married on May 19. We need to come back for flowers for her wedding.”

“We’ll be back,” Hilbert agreed, as she held her purchase, a pot of purple hyacinths.

While the Easter Flower Sale helps support the organization and its beneficiaries throughout the year, Tarner said AWS has other needs which community members can help with.

“The biggest need is for people to spay and neuter their cats,” Tarner said. “Another great need is for more volunteers and board members. We’re a working board, and some people don’t realize that, so they’re surprised when they join and have to work events.”

For more information about the Animal Welfare Society of Jefferson County, visit www.awsjc.org.