NATCHEZ — The Natchez Little Theatre recently joined Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Natchez in an effort to help the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society.

“Natchez Little Theatre has been giving preview performances for years now and the audience has been increasing to very large numbers,” said Layne Taylor, theatre director. “NLT was not charging for admission to these performances, so I thought this was a wonderful opportunity for Natchez Little Theatre, a non-profit volunteer organization, to help other similar organizations. The Humane Society immediately came to mind because of my personal love of animals and my awareness that the Humane Society is in great need of assistance with preparation for moving to a new location.”

Taylor added, “Many of the Board of Directors of NLT are also animal lovers and share their lives with four-legged friends.  Also, and most importantly, Teresa Harrison, who serves on the NLT board, is a very outspoken advocate for animal rights and the Humane Society and serves on their board as well. It was a match made in heaven.”

Harrison is vice president for Co-Lin’s Natchez campus, which has contributed a substantial amount of money and supplies to the Humane Society.

Harrison said, “It is wonderful to see non-profit organizations helping each other.  When Layne Taylor and the NLT offered to do this for the Humane Society, we (the Humane Society Board of Directors) were delighted.  I would like to thank all of the contributors for their donations.  They are greatly appreciated.”

Taylor added, “The preview benefit was promoted through The Natchez Democrat and our website that admission would be either a $5 donation to the Humane Society or the contribution of cans of kitten or puppy food, or bags of cat or dog food or bags of kitty litter.”

The NLT collected $305 and a pick-up truck full of supplies.

“I was very pleased at the enthusiastic response from the community,” Taylor said. “We had over 150 people attend the benefit preview and all attendees, young and old, black and white, rich and poor, and even a seeing-eye dog, eagerly and happily made their donations.  I hope it will assist in bringing awareness to our community of the great needs of the animals at our local shelter and will encourage them to donate money and items throughout the year.”