Mardi Gras parade raises $19K to help animals

It happened on April 1 but it wasn’t a prank. Karen Martin, the Franklin County Humane Society director, received a check for $13,200, a donation from funds raised at the Apalachicola Mardi Gras parade. 

The annual event, organized by the Mystic Krewe of Salty Barkers, a local Franklin County Mardi Gras Krewe, is a fundraiser for the Franklin County Humane Society and the Florida Wild Mammal Association.

From the total donation of $19,000, the humane society received $13,200 and the Florida Wild Mammal Association, a local organization that provides medical care for rescued wild animals, received $5,800. 

“This is the largest donation made by the Krewe, which has donated more than $60,000 to the organizations over the past eight years,” said Caroline Ilardi, president of the Mystick Krewe. “The Krewe is happy to support both organizations for their dedication and hard work of caring for animals of the Forgotten Coast. We would like to thank all of the generous local sponsors and hardworking volunteers who made the donations possible. Once again Franklin County folks have demonstrated what big hearts they have.”