The event, hosted for the second year by shop owner Kelly Munce, featured dozens of homemade baked goods contributed by community members and longtime supporters.

Munce, a former Humane Society volunteer, said she hosts the sale because rescue animals “need a home. They need a loving home. They don’t want to sit in a kennel.” 

She previously adopted two rescue dogs, including Jersey, a small white dog adopted at about age 6 who lived with the family for six years, and Naz, an 11‒pound black dog adopted in November and named after a Minnesota Timberwolves player.

The Humane Society operates entirely through volunteers and does not impose time limits on animals in its care. 

From left: Jade Malecha, Stacy Toltzman, Jill Tostenrud and Dave Tostenrud stand behind a table of baked goods during the Brown County Humane Society Easter Bake Sale at Mabel’s Merkantil on Saturday. Photo by Amy Zents

Monthly veterinary expenses can exceed $10,000, depending on injuries, surgeries and routine medical needs. 

Longtime shelter volunteer, and baker Jill Tostenrud said the shelter depends heavily on community support. 

“Money is a big thing that we’re always looking for our vet bills,” she said. “We’re 100 percent volunteer, so all the money coming to our shelter goes directly towards our animals.”

Tostenrud also described the shelter’s role as a critical landing place for stray animals in Brown County. 

“If it wasn’t for our shelter, the stray animals would be euthanized after they’ve been held for a few days,” she said. “This is their place to land where they’re kept safe and loved until they get a home.”

Lyla Ibberson picks out a plastic egg as her mom, Alexia, and shop owner Kelly Munce look on during the Brown County Humane Society Easter Bake Sale at Mabel’s Merkantil on Saturday. Photo by Amy Zents

The bake sale brought out a wide range of contributors. 

Supporters included Jade Malecha, Donna Becker, Colleen Weber, Deb Aslesben, Dan Aslesben, Stacy Toltzman, Jill and Dave Tostenrud, along with additional items from numerous generous donors who dropped off baked goods without seeking recognition.

Several items sold out early, including red velvet and carrot cakes contributed by Malecha, who also brought smaller carrot cakes. Toltzman made blondies and blueberry muffins. Tostenrud baked sugar cookies, German chocolate cake, chocolate‒cherry bars, cupcakes and fudge. 

Dave Tostenrud, assisting at the table, joked about “working on the sugar cookies” as he ate a few he had purchased.

Customer turnout remained strong throughout the event. Alexia Ibberson of Sleepy Eye stopped in while her son received a haircut at Capone’s. She attended with her daughter, Lyla, after visiting the Easter egg hunt at the New Ulm Civic Center earlier in the day.

A customer selects Scotcharoos at the Brown County Humane Society Easter Bake Sale at Mabel’s Merkantil on Saturday. Photo by Amy Zents

Longtime volunteer Julie Hibbard, who has served the Humane Society for about 30 years, said she became involved because of her lifelong love of animals. 

She has fostered and adopted several cats, including Cisco, an orange tabby she bottle‒fed from four weeks old and cared for until his death at age 15. Her current cat, Arabella, is a 4‒year‒old black‒and‒white short‒haired rescue.

“There are a lot of animals out there that don’t have anybody to take care of them, and that’s where we fill in,” Hibbard said. 

She also mentioned the Humane Society’s upcoming plant and bake sale in May, another fundraiser that helps sustain the shelter’s operations.

In addition to monetary donations, the shelter accepts in‒kind contributions of laundry soap, bleach, paper towels, cleaning supplies and generic pet food. 

Volunteers said the shelter also welcomes help with lawn mowing, snow shoveling and other maintenance tasks. Pop cans may be dropped off at the shelter’s collection cage.

Volunteers reminded Easter shoppers that rabbits and chicks should not be treated as disposable holiday gifts.

“They’re not really a toy,” one said. “Animals are not disposable. When you get an animal, it’s for their lifetime, and we take that very seriously.”

The Humane Society holds fundraisers at least quarterly and encourages community‒led efforts such as lemonade stands or birthday‒money donations.

More information is available at bchsnu.com or by calling 507‒359‒2312.