When TLC Real Estate put out the request to help the Manteca Animal Shelter, the Crafters of Woodbridge responded in a big way.
 The talented ladies from the Del Webb community in north Manteca hand crafted 105 dog beds and 42 cat mats.  Along with a pick up load of other donated items, the beds and mats were presented to the Manteca Animal Shelter on March 25. 
“We’re grateful for all the donations for our cats and dogs,” said Crystal Vandykhuizen, Animal Services Supervisor for Manteca. “These items really help to get them adopted.” 
At any given time, the Manteca shelter houses up to 60 cats and has 29 dog kennels.   Hoping for a loving home, these animals are owner surrendered, rescued from abusive environments or picked up on the streets by Animal Services, a division of the Manteca Police Department. 
 “It is so nice to work in Manteca with such a great community supporting us,” Vandykhuizen added.  Dogs and cats love it here.” 
The shelter is located at 115 E. Wetmore Street.  The staff and 15 to 20 volunteers work to help keep the office open for adoptions or drop-offs Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
During March, TLC (founded as The Lori’s & Co.) asked local residents and businesses to donate much-needed items to the Manteca and/or Ripon shelters and the response has been overwhelming.
“We are so thankful to work in communities like Manteca and Ripon,” said The Lori’s & Co. co-founder, Lori Adams. “Our personal livelihood comes from the community, so it is our responsibility to give back and share our gratitude.  We love our pets and hope every dog and cat in the area is well cared for.” 
This wasn’t the first contribution from the Woodbridge crafters.  In fact, so far in 2016, the ladies have made 162 dog beds and 121 cat liners, which equals about half of their 2015 donations.  Ellen Lee Wootton heads up the dog and cat bed efforts at Woodbridge, and about 15 ladies participate in making the beds every two months. 
 “While I don’t have a dog anymore, I want to help animals in the community, especially those that need it most,” Wootton said. “I am a quilter and found that throw-away scraps can be better used to make the beds.”
Wootton and the other ladies use donated scraps and look for bargains on fabric with colorful and fun animal prints.  Then they use donated bed pillows and other stuffing to fill the beds. 
TLC, affiliated with PMZ Real Estate, is collecting items for the Manteca and Ripon shelters through April 15, extended from the original date of March 31.  Adams said the shelters are in need of “gently used blankets, toys or beds, unopened dog and cat treats, and non-clumping kitty litter.  If you’d like to help the effort, simply drop off your donations to the PMZ office at 1600 W. Yosemite in Manteca or 1408 W. Main Street in Ripon
Helping drop off the donations were Andi Hyden, Carol Silva, Martha Harmon, Ellie Engstrom  and Ellen Lee Wootton of Woodbridge along with TLC Real Estate  staff Lori Little, Lori Adams and Summer Ramirez.