Ledyard — With the current fiscal crunch posing some tough decisions for the town, residents and a nonprofit have stepped up to help alleviate at least one concern.

Earlier this year Ledyard Citizens Helping Animals in Need, or C.H.A.I.N., launched its Raise the Roof Campaign, a fundraising effort intended to raise at least $10,000 to address the failing roof at Ledyard Animal Control, the town’s animal shelter. And although there's still a long way to go, several months into that fundraising effort, the group is just over halfway to the finish line, having raised more than $5,500.

“I’m a firm believer in, if you say something needs to be done, instead of complaining, you should step up if you can,” said Cindy Eilenberger, president of C.H.A.I.N. “We may not get it all, or we may have an angel fall from the sky, but at least we’ll take a big chunk out of it.”

Late last year, Ledyard suddenly was facing a budget deficit after receiving a midyear $1.5 million cut in state aid, which the town scrambled to make up through a combination of furlough days, cost reductions and a supplemental tax bill. But the midyear cut was just a precursor of things to come, as the reductions in state aid were projected to carry into the following fiscal year, as well.

The loss of state aid left the town facing some difficult decisions heading into the latest budget season, and ultimately meant that some projects that really needed to be addressed simply couldn’t be funded, including a project to fix the roof at animal control, which was listed in the top tier of issues in the town’s latest Critical Needs Assessment.

A contractor gave the town an estimate of $10,000 for the work, suggesting that the roof needed to be replaced due to its age.

Fortunately for the town and animal lovers, C.H.A.I.N. stepped in. Since its founding as a nonprofit in 2014, C.H.A.I.N. has had a tight relationship with Ledyard Animal Control and has been very involved in town, helping pets through its pet-food assistance and spayed and neutering programs, among other things.

So, when word came down about the additional financial pressures Ledyard was facing and the high-priority need to address the roof, C.H.A.I.N. approached the mayor with a proposal. The group would raise the money to offset the cost of the roof overhaul.

“It really is just a tremendous effort by C.H.A.I.N. and a willingness of residents to step forward and contribute to a great cause, and it is something we couldn’t have done without their immediate assistance,” Mayor Fred Allyn III said, adding that unfortunately the project would have been placed on the back burner due to the town’s current financial state.

Allyn also said that the goal is to replace the roof in September or early October, and the town likely will put the project out for bid toward the end of the summer.

So far, C.H.A.I.N. has, among other things, partnered with several local businesses, sold T-shirts and held multiple fundraising events, with the next scheduled for May 19. That event is dubbed “An Evening With Spirit” and involves a gallery reading with a spirit medium.

Eilenberger said the group still is looking for more donations and new fundraising ideas, which she said will be especially important as things slow down during the summer.

“There are so many animal lovers and people who’ve adopted from animal control,” Eilenberger said. “We need to get some momentum going.”

If interested in donating, residents can get in touch with C.H.A.I.N. by phone or email at (860) 287-3504 or ledyardchain@gmail.com.

c.clark@theday.com