Brenda Kramer

My husband and I moved to Toms River, NJ, in 1976, and then to Massachusetts in 1984. We’ve always had dogs and cats and were also interested in wildlife. I’m not sure where I first heard about Popcorn Park, but one day we decided to take a trip to Forked River. The park's location in the Pine Barrens was beautiful, and walking around the grounds was special. Each animal had its own space and was clearly well cared for. We took one of the dogs for a walk and decided to sponsor him, as we already had three dogs and couldn’t adopt another.

Over the years, we visited frequently and always found the animals content and well cared for. The caretakers were kind and clearly loved the animals. Sonny the elephant was a joy to see, happy in his compound and enjoying the visitors. For a while, the park even had a Dromedary camel who was fun to watch.

We started regularly reading the financial reports of the Associated Humane Society (AHS) and were impressed by how carefully they managed their funds. Unlike many nonprofits, they didn’t waste money on inflated salaries. Unfortunately, we’ve seen other animal organizations change over time, with resources being mismanaged and less focus on animal care. But AHS has remained consistent in its mission, keeping its budget reasonable and its focus on animal welfare.

My husband passed away almost four years ago, and we had discussed where to leave any remaining funds from our estate. We felt a deep personal connection to Popcorn Park, knowing it would continue to thrive as it has since we first discovered it. It’s also a wonderful place to bring children, to show them animals in a peaceful setting and help them understand that we are all connected—humans, wildlife, and the environment.

One of the most vivid experiences of my life occurred during a visit to Popcorn Park after we moved to Massachusetts. We had made a special trip to see Caesar the tiger, but he wasn’t in his enclosure because it was being worked on. When I explained how far we’d traveled and showed a photo of Caesar that I carried in my wallet, a caretaker kindly invited us to the side door of the building. Inside, in a narrow hallway, Caesar sat calmly on a table, just inches away from us. The sight of such a massive, magnificent tiger so close—his huge head, intelligent amber eyes—was breathtaking. I’ll never forget it.

After all these years of involvement with Popcorn Park, I know it is a worthy organization that will remain true to its mission. For this reason, any remaining funds from my estate will go to Popcorn Park for its continued care of the animals.