Why Be a Guardian Angel by Martha Mitchell in 2018.
Remembering Martha Mitchell 1956 - 2022
🔸Martha Mitchell, an extraordinary volunteer for the Morongo Basis Humane Society who applied her remarkable business acumen and organizational skill set to the betterment of the Joshua Tree No-Kill Shelter, died Dec. 14, 2022, at her home in Twentynine Palms. Her husband, Mike Neveu, was by her side. She was 66. The cause of her untimely passing was cancer. Always active and supportive of animal welfare causes, Martha volunteered to help the Morongo Basin Humane Society as a full-time bookkeeper in 2016, eventually morphing into an administrative office manager who advanced the shelter’s operation in procedural matters, event planning, communication, major fundraising events such as the annual Woof!Walk in Pioneertown and whatever else needed to be done. She left the shelter at the end of 2019 but continued her support through consultation and friendship. “She persevered,” said Mimi Mitz, the MBHS Board president and co-founder. “All of a sudden, she showed up, around 2016, meeting with the shelter manager and organizing everything. She had so many ideas of ways to help the shelter and bring it to the social media. I can’t imagine where we would be without her,” said Mimi. Most significantly, Martha created the Guardian Angels program where monthly donors help to provide the “daily bread” for the care and nurturing of the puppies, kittens, dogs and cats in the shelter’s care. 🔸Martha put a Shelter spin on this beautiful recording by Willie Nelson and got the rights to post it as the theme song for her Guardian Angels video. And, now, all of us GA’s are singing it back to her. The Guardian Angels became a community of caretakers who meet every year in May for the Ice Cream Social hosted by MBHS board members. It was Martha’s plan to develop the Ice Cream Social as an annual festive “family gathering” to recognize and appreciate the continuous support and participation of community members. Guests and friends are treated to delicious servings of ice cream donated by Cold Stone Creamery and, of course, angel food cake, along with an annual progress report and a program presented by local animal welfare and rescue organizations. “We want to acknowledge how important she was, for us and other rescues,” said Mimi. Conni Lantzy of Feathers ’n Fur Wildlife Rehab Team in Twentynine Palms was the featured presenter at the 2019 Ice Cream Social. Upon hearing of Martha’s passing, she recalled how Martha helped her navigate the nonprofit requirements. “Martha walked me through everything, Facebook, how to set up donations, just about everything I would need,” said Conni. “I am heartbroken.” When the time comes, the Board intends to memorialize Martha Mitchell’s legacy by naming a significant element of the new shelter building in her honor. You may express your condolences here in comments or by mail to MBHS, PO Box 1234, Joshua Tree, CA, 92252. Memorial donations in her name may be made online at mbhumanesociety.com/donations or through the mail.
* Martha didn't like to have her photo taken. (But, she actually posed for this one.)
