Community Education

Longtime friends organize Books for Barks fundraiser for CHEW Dog Rescue

Two teens who met in preschool have been raising money for local nonprofit CHEW Dog Rescue for the past three years through a fundraiser called Books for Barks. They took over the event when the original creator had to step aside, and they’ve been working hard each year to procure books for the sale and find new ways to increase the amount they donate to the rescue.

It had been a summer event. This year the two fundraiser coordinators, Maddie Armstrong, and Briar Honn, decided to change it up and hold Books for Barks event during the Halloween weekend.

Books for Barks is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 28 and 29, in the Stroh’s Community Room at Wilco on Hunt Street. It includes a raffle, a dog costume contest with a prize, treats for dogs and candy for kids.

Longtime friends

Armstrong is a junior at Gig Harbor High School and Honn is a freshman at School of the Arts in Tacoma. The two kept in touch, even after they went their separate ways as they entered elementary school.

Armstrong has been attending CHEW adoption events with her mom since she was 5 years old.

“Our family has adopted two CHEW dogs, so I was glad to be able to support the rescue,” Armstrong said. “CHEW’s president, Sherette Main, asked if I would be interested in taking it over.”

Her mother Heidi Armstrong said they wanted friends to help run the fundraiser, and immediately thought of the Honns. 

Maddie Armstrong, left, and Frankie Kelley, when Kelley visited the sale at Wilco in 2022. Photo courtesy of Jessie Kelley

“Briar and Clare were the first people we thought of, knowing their love of books, and huge hearts for animals,” Heidi Armstrong said.

Briar Honn said the sale is a great way for teachers to fill their classroom libraries. The prices are lower than you’ll find anywhere else.

Active teens

Both teens participate in a variety of extracurricular activities. Armstrong dances at the Harbor Dance and Performance Center and has been on competitive teams since she was 8 years old. Honn is heavily involved in theater and is a member of the School of the Arts tech crew.

The two have learned valuable skills by taking on the fundraising project, said Briar Honn’s mother Clare.

“This has taught them social skills, money handling, and customer service skills, leadership, and community service,” Clare Honn said. “They have faced fears and anxieties approaching local businesses for donations.”

Invitation Bookshop on Olympic Drive agreed to have a donation box.

“Maddie and Briar approached us three years ago about being a collection location for books donated to the fundraiser,” said Allyson Howard. She and her husband Jason opened the book store in 2020.

Maddie Armstrong and Briar Honn held the sale in August 2019 on the sidewalk outside of Mud Bay Pet Store on Point Fosdick Drive. That summer, Briar Honn (left) was going into fifth grade and Maddie Armstrong (right) was going into sixth grade. It was their first year taking charge of the fundraiser.
Photo courtesy of Heidi Armstrong

“Honestly, we have the easiest role in this,” Howard said. “The real work is all done by them. But the work they are doing is very much in line with our values — local teens supporting a local nonprofit with contributions from the local community. We also want to get behind anything that promotes literacy and increases access to books. We recognize that not everyone can afford a library full of brand new books. Fundraisers like this, along with our used bookstores and Little Free Libraries, are all part of making books accessible while also emphasizing the importance of supporting local and building community.”

Something to CHEW on

Books for Barks proceeds help CHEW Dog Rescue provide health care for local dogs who have been surrendered for rehoming, said Gloria Stewart, vice president of CHEW. Books for Barks is not the only source of money for the nonprofit, but Stewart said it makes a difference.

“So many of these dogs are not up to date on shots, some have bad teeth, and it’s $1,500 to get a dog’s teeth cleaned,” she said. “CHEW is all-volunteer, so no one gets paid, and all of the money goes back to the dogs, to get them healthy.”

The rescue takes in around 100 dogs annually. It pairs the dog with a foster home and tries to get them into a loving permanent home that is the right fit for the dog, Stewart said.

Maddison Armstrong and Briar Honn presented Sherette Main (CHEW president at the time) with a giant check in 2019.
Photo courtesy of Heidi Armstrong

“We have about 35 people who foster, and it rotates because we have people who go on vacations, snow birds, jobs, and we’d love to have more families willing to foster,” she said.

The rescue pays for all necessary veterinary fees. It will help with food costs and provide things like dog leashes, toys, beds, and pretty much anything a dog could need, Stewart said.

Both Armstrong and Honn hope to surpass the previous amount they raised for the rescue, which was $2,035. 

“Our goal this year is to beat that, but we’re proud of any amount we raise,” Armstrong said.

For more information about CHEW Dog Rescue, visit chewdogrescue.org.

Books for Barks

What: Fundraiser benefiting CHEW Dog Rescue

When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 28 and 29

Where: Wilco, 3408 Hunt St., N.W., Gig Harbor

The 2021 Books for Barks fundraiser at the Stroh’s Community Event Hall at Wilco Farm Store on Hunt Street N.W. Photo courtesy of Clare Honn