A bad time of the year for shelters/rescues

Don't forget office supplies! Pens, pencils, printer paper, printer cartiridges, file folders, scissors, staplers, tape (duct, scotch and masking tapes) and mailing supplies like envelopes, and those padded envelopes and everything like that.

I always make a holiday donations to a local shelter. And I just adopted a kitten. I try to do my part.

Originally Posted by booktigger

i get pleas like that from CP, got one tonight in fact. Sadly I am rather cynical when they have come from HQ, and prefer to give my donations to small independent rescues who dont have legacies and volunteers to rely on.

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I always get my christmas cards and gifts from The Cats Protections head office, but i'm also a member of my local Cats Protection which is where i send the donations to now

For our engagement party, we asked people in lieu of gifts, to make a donation to one of four charities we nominated. The RSPCA, UNICEF, Médecins Sans Frontières, or CARE Australia. We felt that we really had enough stuff of our own. We will do the same for our wedding.

This Christmas, both of our families will be buying each other gifts from Oxfam, where you can buy a goat, or a chicken or cow, or a bicycle or something like this, for a family in an impoverished country that you `give' to each other as a gift. Last year I got a goat. I can't think how much that will help the family in Africa who actually physically got the goat. It's a wonderful idea.

Near our local supermarket there is a bin for the local dog refuge, and I always buy food and put in in there. What costs me $10 would feed three puppies for a week. I cannot see that that is unaffordable.

You don't have to do much, every little bit helps, and it makes you feel better than any other kind of gift.

When I was a lot poorer and I couldn't afford to buy $10 of food for homeless dogs, I used to go to the shelters and play with them. There's stuff you can do even if you're not very well off. I just wish more people would see that.

I feel bad because when I upgraded Trouts litterbox to a tote, I threw out her old one..It was perfectly good, but I wasn't aware that the shelters take stuff like that

Originally Posted by booktigger

Can I use that for my other forum JCat?

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Certainly!
I forgot to mention refrigerators, for medicines and pet food. Big cages for small animals are also helpful.

Thanks J, I hope it makes some people realise what they can do for charities. I am going to do more next year (Althoguh I have already donated a lot this year), but little things like maybe buy one tin of food extra a week, and every few months take to a different local charity, and my change jar will be going to charity.
KitEKats, you are right, there are so many other things that can be done, I have put some on our latest poster, will send it home tomorrow to put the text on here.

Originally Posted by booktigger

Thanks J, I hope it makes some people realise what they can do for charities.

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A lot of people simply don't realize what they can offer. Friends of ours bought a house, and absolutely hated the new purple carpeting the previous owner had had installed. They were all set to throw it out, figuring that nobody else would like it, when it occurred to them that their local SPCA might be glad to have it, to cut up for the cat/dog cages. The shelter was thrilled to get it, and the animals didn't seem to mind the color.

Originally Posted by KitEKats4Eva!

Near our local supermarket there is a bin for the local dog refuge, and I always buy food and put in in there. What costs me $10 would feed three puppies for a week. I cannot see that that is unaffordable.

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The bins are terrific. We have a couple of supermarkets in town that have them right next to the entrance, and people will buy an extra can/bag or so, and deposit it on their way out.

Originally Posted by jcat

While we're all getting into the "holiday mood" and doing our shopping, perhaps a lot of us could take a little bit of time and make a donation to a local shelter or rescue organization? Even $5 or $10 would help.
I just got a letter from a rescue organization I belong to, and the financial situation is dire, as Fall is the usual time to speuter all the Spring kittens. Heating costs are also high now that the cold weather is setting in. If somebody asks you what you want for Christmas, perhaps you could suggest a donation to a cat/pet welfare organization?

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That's such a wonderful idea. I was wondering what I can do to help out strays. I can't take anymore in, which breaks my heart. If I could, I would take in all the strays I find. It's so sad to see cats out there with out a home.

Fingers crossed that prompts a few people. I have also added anythign that rescues can sell on fundraisers.
WE have got a food bin in a local pet shop (Well, will have when I buy the bin, decorate it and drop it off this weekend!!) and are hoping to have one in a supermarket, but am still wiating to hear from 3 of them. I do hope that it works well.

The cat rescue I volunteer for has a wish list for supplies for the clinic. In addition to the high ticket items already mentioned, they are always in need of smaller things like cotton balls, towels, plastic bowls, toys, etc. A friend and I are planning to hit the Dollar Store and each fill up a laundry basket with items they can use from towels to garbage bags as well as coffee, sodas, and snacks for the clinic volunteers. It isn't much, but for about 10-20 bucks a piece we can get alot for the kitties and the staff. And a card with a donation in it of course!

You would be surprised how a little can go a long way. We rely completely on donations, and even office supplies for the center like pens, staples, tape, note paper, envelopes is appreciated.

ooh, more ideas!! Sorry to pinch these ones too, but it is things I had never thought of. Will get the rescue I foster for to do me a wish list to put on our website, and am going to contact a local rescue. Hopefully with all these tips, i will me able to make more of a difference next year, cos there are some very low cost things that they will need. Someone on my other forum has mentioned radios, as the rescue she works for has them in all the pens - another thing I never thought of despite the fact I use them for the fosters!!

Thanks for the reminder Tricia I made a donation over the weekend

great reminder....I always do the "donate a dollar" everytime I go to pet smart....and we drop our change into the coin collection box at petsmart too. And if I see something on clearance, I get it for the rescues....I gave the rescue that neutered Louie a litter box, and several boxes of dry cat food. They were very appreciative, and said they would make sure that it would go to someone in need.

Originally Posted by jcat

A couple of posters have mentioned great presents, like blankets, food, and toys. What are often needed are working washers, dryers, ranges/cookers, microwaves, vacuum cleaners, radios, and dishwashers, so if you're renovating/upgrading, offer your working appliances! Old towels and pillows are quite welcome, too, as are scratching posts or mats, rugs, carriers, litter boxes, beds, and even solid cardboard boxes. If you can't afford to donate money or objects, perhaps you could offer your time to clean, take pets to the vets', or even maintain websites. Not to mention fostering, which many TCS members do.

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What great ideas!! I'm sending lots of prayers and vibes that the messages get out, and people support His creatures as part of the celebration of His birth