Foley bookstore owner donates $30K to The Haven

By KARA MAUTZ
Reporter
kara@gulfcoastmedia.com
Posted 5/10/23

In memory of his late wife, a Foley business owner has made a sizable donation to The Haven Animal Shelter in Fairhope. "My late wife, Diane, was a veterinarian. These animals were her love and her …

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Foley bookstore owner donates $30K to The Haven

Posted

In memory of his late wife, a Foley business owner has made a sizable donation to The Haven Animal Shelter in Fairhope.

"My late wife, Diane, was a veterinarian. These animals were her love and her life. She loved the pets possibly more than me," John Soderberg said with a laugh. "I wanted to set up this rescue fund in her memory and make it a permanent fund for the shelter."

Soderberg, who owns JHS Bookstore in Foley, said his wife passed away last September, and he wanted to set up the donation to coincide with her birthday on May 5.

"I will be presenting the shelter with a check for $30,000 and I will be making ongoing contributions annually."

Soderberg said he is not sure of the future contribution amounts, but he has specifications for how the donation will be used.

"It's not going to go for utilities or paying staff. I want it to go directly toward the cost of helping the animals," Soderberg said. "Haven is the only no-kill shelter in the county. They take animals from other shelters that are about to be euthanized and do what they can in terms of medical help and adoption."

"That is what the fund is directed toward, the taking and transporting of animals who were about to be euthanized," Soderberg said. "As well as any other animals that need to be rescued in general."

Soderberg said he and his wife opened the bookstore together, and while they weren't overly involved with The Haven shelter specifically, he and his wife were always passionate about rescuing animals.

"We still have two adopted cats from the shelter," Soderberg said. "She loved rescuing these animals and this donation will be in honor of her for her birthday."