In step with its mission to promote conservation, the Greener Coalition rallied UNC Pembroke students for volunteer work at Shizzy’s Wildcat Rescue. The wildcat rescue center is a fledgling nonprofit located in Fair Bluff, North Carolina, and is the brainchild of Shazir Haque. Construction underway at Shizzy's will create a sanctuary for captive wildcats and other large, captive mammals that are no longer wanted. Biology major Victoria Spencer of the Greener Coalition spearheaded the volunteer efforts.
Dilapidated buildings on site are to be transformed into wildcat habitats and repurposed for other uses. To prep the buildings for construction and cleanup, the Biology Club and Conservation Biology (BIO 4320) students joined the Greener Coalition on October 27th and November 10th to remove contents from the buildings. In December, the students removed tree debris from a logged area on which wildcat enclosures are to be built. The Greener Coalition has hosted two fundraisers for Shizzy’s and has plans for more volunteer work at the center later this winter.
The Greener Coalition educates its members about conservation and sustainability, promotes environmental awareness, and advocates for sustainable foods. In addition to volunteer work, the coalition hosts advocacy events and is developing a strategy to reduce energy usage on the UNCP campus.
You can learn more about the Greener Coalition from its webpage and from its instagram page. If you would like to contact the Greener Coalition or to be added to its newsletter, use this email address -- @Greener Coalition or go to GC Twitter: @greeneruncp.