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Representatives of Medtronic came to the rescue of the Animal Welfare League recently after a ceiling in the group’s animal lab collapsed and caused significant damage.
The damage occurred on June 14 before staff arrived at the facility.
The entire suspended ceiling, supports, the 4-foot long light fixtures, tiles and more collapsed, leaving debris scattered everywhere, according to a news release provided by AWL.
“We were so grateful it happened early, before staff arrived, and there were no animals in the room,” said Darla McCammon, executive director for the facility.
The damage occurred in the midst of a fundraising campaign with plans to open a new facility south of its existing building near U.S. 30 and east of Warsaw.
“I have been telling everyone who would listen that the building is falling down around us. This verifies that fact,” she said.
A call for help went out along with a call to the insurance company.
Support soon came from about a dozen employees of Medtronic, who made repairs and helped in other ways.
“These people were amazing and the generosity of Medtronic in helping us out has humbled everyone involved with our Animal Welfare League,” the press release said.
The workers even put up a new wall on one side of the lab and others brought flowers, mulch and weeding tools for outside improvements.
The group has raised more than $1 million, but still has more to do before it is ready to relocate.
“We have been trying diligently to reach our goal and not only end phase I of our construction but begin on phase II,” said staff member Toni Walker. “Because we need to expand, we cannot stay here and remodel, which is too bad because even though this ceiling came down, the overall steel structure is still a good building — just not large enough for our needs.”
