It was nine months ago that Harlee Bendzula created a Facebook group out of boredom during the pandemic. The proud owner of two pit bulls and a one-eyed Persian cat, she named the group “Auction for Animals” to raise money for the Erie County SPCA.
What started out as a fun idea soon turned into a sensation, raising $60,000+ and counting for the Erie County SPCA and making Bendzula the number one donor for 2020 in the SPCA’s annual newsletter. Bendzula recently dropped off a $25,000 quarterly check to the shelter and she doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon.
Auctions for Animals Benefiting the Erie County SPCA can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2759428844286166/?ref=share
You must join the group to be entered into the auctions of which have included chances to win Disney trips, televisions, Playstations, dinners to local restaurants and more. While this group is dedicated to helping the Erie SPCA, Bendzula also raises money for other animals welfare organizations and rescues in the group with a 50/50 to spread the love.
Bendzula says it’s become a full time job to run this group, but she is grateful for the opportunity to help the animals. As we sat with her at lunch, her phone was receiving notifications from bidders that she keeps up with immediately on various payment apps. She joked that she’s a “bookie for the animals.”
We think there’s no better bookie to be!
