Joyce and Mel loved being at their home on the bank of the Sandy River where they lived with their beloved pets. One notable exception was their annual visit to the Oregon Humane Society during the holidays to make a donation.
As the years passed, they strengthened their partnership with OHS by becoming part of the Thomas Lamb Eliot Circle (TLC). Then they invited a development officer to visit them at their home where they shared their plan to donate their estate to support pets in need. After Joyce’s passing in 2019, their plan became reality.
The memory of Joyce and Mel’s generosity and kindness is their true legacy. Joyce loved apple-headed Chihuahuas and would recycle worn-out jackets to make clothes for them. She also donated her creations to benefit the pets at OHS. She was a great cook and enjoyed inviting an OHS development officer to stay for a meal and for a dog fashion show displaying the fabulous clothes she created for her beloved Chihuahuas.
Mel was a crane operator and worked at NessCampbell Crane + Rigging, which formerly operated next door to OHS. Mel had a way with machines and was known to be able to fix anything. When OHS purchased the former NessCampbell property, they were happy to hear that his former place of work would be the site of future growth and expanding programs and services for animals in need.
The Veggens will be remembered as modest, down-to-earth people. It gave them great comfort to know that their estate would be used to help the animals, or “the babies,” as Joyce liked to call them. Their gift shows that giving isn’t about rich people making major donations, but everyday people doing what they can to help.
OHS is deeply grateful for the legacy of hope left by Joyce and Mel.
Read about other Legacy donors.
