She called it Gals Need Pals — an apt name for the problem she was facing at the time. "I launched the Instagram in September 2022," Schmidt says.

Gals Need Pals hosts two paid, ticketed activities monthly. The gatherings range from craft nights to a 200-person prom. “All our events since January have sold out!” Schmidt said.

TWIN PORTS — Puppa’s Pals is a new nonprofit that coordinates temporary pet foster placement for people in crisis situations. This includes pet owners who are headed to jail, entering ...