Several furry friends received a blessing Saturday with donations benefiting the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 6602 in Hinesville and St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.The event was organized by VFW Auxiliary member Barbara Mangler. She said they collected nearly $2,000 from the event and folks who just donated funds.Dale Thornton, senior pastor of Hinesville First United Methodist Church, welcomed guests and their dogs at the small gazebo at Bradwell Park.Thornton said he and his wife have owned Yorkshire terriers, which deeply enhanced their lives. He added pets provide people with unconditional love.“They have a purity of love and devotion that sometimes we human beings lack,” he said.