The owner of a downtown Ellijay restaurant chose two local animal-friendly nonprofits to pay forward a donation that originally helped her after the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Cornerstone Cafe owner Terrie Leyden picked Friends of the Gilmer Animal Shelter (FOGAS) and Shelter Dogs For Veterans to each receive a $500 donation. Leyden said $1,000 was originally given to her by the Downtown Ellijay Business and Community Association (DEBCA) with one stipulation.
“They basically knew I was struggling when I first reopened and that I’ve been a big community supporter for years. The stipulation was, once I was able to pay it back, I would pay it forward to someone. I thought long and hard,” she said. “The first thing in town to be canceled was St. Petrick’s Day, which is probably the biggest fundraiser for FOGAS. So much of my family is military and we couldn’t do anything for veterans this Memorial Day, so I thought I would donate the other half to Shelter Dogs For Veterans.”
Leyden’s community involvement has included helping out over the years with numerous downtown Ellijay events such as parades and the annual Light Up Ellijay celebration, as well as raising money for different local school sports programs.
“I try to support everything I can,” she said.
Leyden said she’s definitely a dog person, which endeared her to the two receiving nonprofits.
“I have a dog and, when I come home from work, he brings me such comfort. It doesn’t matter what kind of day I’ve had. It calms me down,” she said.
Speaking specifically about Shelter Dogs for Veterans, which pairs service dogs with military veterans and first responders who need them, Leyden said her late husband was a Vietnam veteran and she has a nephew who’s a special-ops paratrooper.
“I know so many (military) guys. If one dog goes to one man or woman and can give them comfort or save their lives, how worth it,” she said.
Sharon Callan, certified dog trainer and president of Shelter Dogs For Veterans, started the nonprofit in 2015 as an offshoot of her dog-training business Paws Be Good. The dogs she trains to eventually become certified service dogs come from animal shelters that euthanize.
“I use the Gilmer shelter a lot. I always go there first. I also go to the Pickens (shelter),” she said.
Callan said she mainly works with veterans and first responders who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injuries, service-related sexual trauma or a physical disability.
After a potential owner is paired with a dog that’s a good match, both undergo a lengthy training process that’s provided at no cost to the participating veteran. After completing the training, the service dog can accompany its owner wherever he or she needs to go.
“It can take up to a year and a half depending on their disability and what they need the dog to do,” Callan said.
The primary mission of FOGAS is to raise money for the Gilmer County Animal Shelter. Those funds are used for adoption programs, to purchase supplies for animals housed at the facility and to sponsor a discount spay-neuter clinic program that’s been particularly active in the past year.
Much of that outreach has been put on hold due to the virus pandemic, which makes Leyden’s donations all the more important, noted Ernie Taylor, a volunteers for both FOGAS and Shelter Dogs For Veterans.
“Like many businesses and charities, FOGAS is experiencing a reduction in donations due to COVID-19. Thanks to the generosity of citizens and businesses such as Cornerstone Cafe, we plan to continue assisting the animal shelter and providing subsidized spay-neuter clinics as much as possible,” he said.
Callan described how the donation helps her organization, which also relies on fundraising and donations to carry out its mission.
“It will help with things like food and vetting for the dogs and (purchasing) harnesses. Everything is pretty costly when you consider it all together,” she said.
Cynthia Michel, DEBCA vice-president, said the association’s pay-it-forward program is ongoing and Cornerstone Cafe was its first recipient.
“DEBCA is not a merchants’ organization, although it benefits our historic downtown. We try to include the entire community -— businesses and citizens. The only charge to belong is your time and we meet once a month,” said Michel.
“I’m really pleased with the program and we’ll develop it more as we go along. It’s all about helping each other stay afloat.”
This year marks the Cornerstone’s 15th anniversary, Leyden noted. It started as a homey, neighborhood spot for breakfast and lunch and remains so today.
“I started it April 6, 2005. Breakfast is our best timeframe because we serve it all day. I get people coming in ordering omelets and country fried steak with biscuits and gravy at 10 till 2,” Leyden said.
One of the best things about being open again, she confirmed, is seeing regular customers filter back through the doors.
“It’s so rewarding and they’re so happy (to be back),” Leyden said.