ARLINGTON — The Sarvey Wildlife Center’s fourth-annual “Sweet on Sarvey” donation drive generated more than $1,200 in cash and five SUVs full of food and supplies for the animals in their care, but donation drive coordinator Dorthy Ottaway emphasized that more is always needed and appreciated.

The Arlington Safeway, Marysville Albertsons and Granite Falls Red Apple hosted the donation drive April 5-6, to help cover the expenses of the Sarvey Wildlife Center in Arlington. Sarvey is in the midst of its spring newborn animal season, and its founder, 69-year-old Kaye Baxter, is fighting lung cancer.

As Ottaway and Darren Massey stood outside the Arlington Safeway April 6, several passersby asked about Baxter. Ottaway remained chipper, passing out lollipops and staying positive about the center’s work of treating and releasing wild animals, as well as the community’s support of the same.

“Every year I want to thank the community for stepping up to respond to the center’s needs,” said Ottaway, who also offered thanks to fellow volunteers Massey, Cynthia Ottaway, Roger Stalker and Mary Helen McCarty.

Ottaway laughed as she recalled how the first “Sweet on Sarvey” donation drive began four years ago, by trying to sell lollipops to support the center.

“Nobody wanted the suckers, but they donated anyway,” Ottaway said. “We still hand them out, though.”

In spite of receiving so many items this year that Ottaway’s father “barely had enough room for himself” when he drove his vehicle, she noted that the Sarvey Wildlife Center can always use more of the following items:

FOOD

Honey.

Powdered Esbilac or KMR (available at pet stores).

Baby food.

Unsalted nuts of any kind.

Cracked corn.

Dry cat food of any kind.

Unsweetened applesauce.

Pedialyte.

SUPPLIES

Fleece blankets or fleece pieces, for babies.

Paper towels.

Q-tips.

Cotton balls.

All sizes of plastic garbage bags.

Rubber gloves or exam gloves.

White pine shavings, for bedding.

Bleach.

Liquid hypoallergenic laundry soap.

Dish detergent.

Small to medium kitchen scrubber sponges and brushes.

All sizes of zipper-lock bags.

1-cc insulin syringes, without needles.

Fans in good working order.

Heating pads in safe working order.

To learn more about the Sarvey Wildlife Center, you may call them at 360-435-4817, or log onto their Web site, at www.sarveywildlife.org.

Contact Kirk Boxleitner

at 360-435-5757 or

kboxleitner@arlingtontimes.com.