It costs more than $50,000 a month to operate the Animal Rescue League of Marshalltown, and its largest fundraiser, Furr Ball Cough It Up For The Animals, helps fortify the budget. The ball will take place from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on April 5 at Midnight Garden, located at 1501 S. 17th Ave.

Even co-chairs Susan Krough and Peggy Hannam said the evening promises to be filled with good food and a wide selection of live and silent auction items. The informal theme this year is “denim and diamonds” but attendees are not required to be attired that way. This is the second year the Furr Ball has been hosted at Midnight Garden.

“It’s just a big, beautiful space and Luisa (Ortega) is just a beautiful host to us,” Hannam said.

Terry Harris will be introducing everyone, while Todd Steinkamp will announce all the items before Dennis Dostal auctions them off. The event photographer is Lanese Thompson.

Things in the silent auction will include adult beverage packages and baskets from local businesses. The live auction goodies include a trip to Mexico, kayaks, Iowa State Fair packages, shop local packages, Tim McGraw concert tickets that include a bed and breakfast stay, and more.

Patio heaters and grills will also be on the auction table. A date night package for a year (12 dates) is new, and features concert and sporting tickets, dinners and more.

“Our committee has been working on this since the start of the year,” Krough said. “We feel like our auction gets better and better every year.”

Returning auction favorites of cheesecake and carrot cake have been crowd pleasers, Hannam noted.

ARL Executive Director Austin Gillis will be the guest speaker for the evening.

“The ARL is not exempt from rising costs. Our budget is looking to be in the $625,000 to $650,000 for the year,” he said. “We survive on the compassion of the community. The secured funding that we do have is limited and only covers cost for their specific programs, such as our agreement with the City for stray animals is a source of funding, but it covers the costs for that specific program. We are primarily funded from donations from the community. We often will research and try to find grants that we can apply for or reach out to local support groups such as 100 Women Who Care, that donated a large amount to fund our plumbing repairs.”

Last year’s Furr Ball raised $90,000 with the goal to bring in $100,000 this time around. All money generated stays local.

“When you put on an event, you want to put on the very best event you can, and we strive for that every year, but it just takes a lot of work, a lot of follow up, but it is a pleasure to work with our executive director Austin. I would run miles with him,” Krough noted.

A buffet dinner will be served, with beef having been donated by Iowa Premium in Tama. There will also be a vegetarian option. The dessert for the evening is five different types of cheesecake, made by Jill Severson.

Musical entertainment will be by ’70s cover band Rhythmic Rewind Band.

“We’re very excited to have the band at our event this year, which is new, they are out of Des Moines, and a couple of the members in the band are actually graduates of Marshalltown,” Krough noted.

Tickets are $75 per person or a table of eight can be reserved for $800. Tickets are available at: secure.qgiv.com/event/furrball, arlmarshalltown.com or by calling 641-753-9046. If you are unable to attend, you can still donate.

“For over six decades, the Animal Rescue League of Marshalltown has been serving the homeless animals of Marshall County,” Gillis said. “Our numbers have grown from a couple dozen animals per year to over a thousand cats and dogs that come through our doors annually. Our scope has widened from just a shelter to offering animal control services, advocating for better animal welfare laws and providing education to our community.”

Gillis said the ARL is partnering with Fencing Solutions who will be installing a new large outdoor run. In addition, it is working on a program for the community that will bring the low-cost clinic back to Marshalltown. “We are hoping to sit down with any and all vets in the area that will be willing to partner with us,” he said.

What is most needed at the ARL is fosters and adopters.

“Aside from that, we are always in need of things like peanut butter, hard dog toys, cat litter (non-clumping preferred), gently used dog/cat toys or beds, miscellaneous office supplies and large black and yellow totes like from Menards and Theisen’s,” he added. “Also, ask us how we can make your monetary donation go further. We have access to several different platforms that offer discounts on products and services. Sometimes we can take a $20 donation and buy $50 worth of supplies.”