Thank You for Making the 2nd Annual Pups & Purrs Pet Picnic a Success!
Thursday, July 23, 2026, will be remembered as an evening of community, compassion, and plenty of wagging tails.
On behalf of the Downtown Skokie Merchants Collaborative, thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered, sponsored, donated, and helped make the 2nd Annual Pups & Purrs Pet Picnic such a wonderful community celebration.
Because of your support, families, friends, and their four-legged companions enjoyed an evening filled with great food, treats, games, face painting, photo opportunities, raffles, and plenty of wagging tails, all while raising funds to support Community Animal Rescue Effort (C.A.R.E.) and its mission of helping homeless animals find loving homes.
Thank You to Our Sponsors & Community Partners
This event would not have been possible without the generosity of our sponsors, partners, and participating businesses.
A heartfelt thank you to:
Village of Skokie Public Works
Village of Skokie, Mayor Ann Tennes
Cookie Canine Companion
Dengeos
Herm’s Place
Hubs
NC Chocolatier
NY Bagel and Bialy
Poochies
Soul Good
Will’s Place
Thank you for investing in our community and helping create such a memorable evening for pets and the people who love them.
Community events like the Pups & Purrs Pet Picnic don't happen by accident. They happen because people generously give their time, talents, and energy to create something special for others.
Thank You to Our Volunteers
To Our Planning Committee
A very special thank you to the members of our planning committee, whose creativity, dedication, and countless hours of preparation transformed an idea into a memorable community event. From coordinating sponsors and vendors to organizing activities, logistics, and volunteers, along with countless behind-the-scenes details, your commitment made this event possible.
Madeleine England, Chair
Amina Saleem
Lynn Goldman
Carrie Cole
Jennifer Kenny
Matt Engelhardt
Jeanne Kerl
To Everyone Who Lent a Hand
We're equally grateful to the many volunteers who stepped up before, during, and after the event. Whether you helped with setup, registration, greeting guests, running activities, serving food, selling raffle tickets, assisting families and their pets, taking photos, cleaning up, or tackling any of the countless jobs that kept the evening running smoothly, your willingness to help made all the difference.
Every hour you volunteered helped create an evening that brought our community together while supporting animals in need. Thank you for sharing your time, your kindness, and your enthusiasm. We truly couldn't have done it without you.
Aggie B
Amelia D
Barb S
Bonnie R
Brooke B
Cindy A
Jim M
Julie J
Karen H
Karin W
Karyn P
Kathy P
Clancy F
Cookie S
Daisy M
Elizabeth L
Evie W
Ilyse M
Kathy R
Melvin J
Molly E
Molly L
Therese D
Congratulations to our Raffle Winners!
Jim M
Maria H
Brian K
Lauren G
Holly S
Anna
Victor
We Can't Wait Until Next Year!
We're already looking forward to making next year's Pups & Purrs Pet Picnic even bigger and better.
Be sure to follow the Downtown Skokie Merchants Collaborative and our participating businesses for updates on future community events, fundraisers, and family-friendly activities throughout the year.
Thank you again for supporting local businesses, strengthening our community, and helping animals in need.
We hope to see you and your furry friends again next year!
Help Pets Find Their Forever Homes
Can't attend the Pet Picnic? You can still make a difference. Every donation to Community Animal Rescue Effort (C.A.R.E.) helps provide lifesaving care and supports the rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption of homeless animals throughout our community.