Obsession to help hurricane victims

Jessica Gilbertson's admitted obsession with crane machines will now benefit hurricane victims. Gilbertson has become so proficient at grabbing stuffed animals, pillows, balls and other objects with the claws of various crane machines, that the room of her two sons was nearly overflowing.

So when Gilbertson heard about Best Friends Animal Society's efforts to assist the victims of Hurricane Harvey, she decided to take action.

“It took me seven hours to clean their room,” she laughed, referring to her sons, Truthton Fales, 11, and Johnny Fales, 9.

“I was originally going to have a large yard sale and that didn't work out. So when I heard about this I figured I might as well give the money to a good cause.”

The mother and two sons took around 100 stuffed toys, a few books and some other items to Boxelder Bug Days and set up a table in the parking lot just outside the community center.

The trio put up a sign that read: Help Hurricane Victims — 75 cents each or 2 for $1. Best Friends Animal Society, established in 1991, is a non-profit animal welfare organization.

Based in Utah, the organization pledges to spend every penny of any monetary donations it received to help reunite pets with families, help find homes for animals turned in at shelters, and help rescue groups and shelters in Texas, Florida and other areas affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.

Gilbertson is planning to send all the money from the sale of the books and stuffed toys during Boxelder Bug Days to Best Friends Animal Society.