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I have some teenagers who are emmebers of a service learning team who want to do something for our shelter's animals. They prefer it to be either this month (Jan) or Feb (hint cold out in Utah). One day event (opposed to on going) and there will be 10-15 teenagers involved.

I've got access to those PDF 101 shelter ideas and 101 more shelter ideas plus this website: http://www.fundraising-ideas.org/DIY/index.html

But I haven't had time to weed through every idea yet since I'm at work. I cannot be at the shelter so something "off-site."

Question

If anyone had anything off the top of their heads care to share?

My first thought was a pet food drive, kind of like what the Boy Scouts do as a food drive around December. Pass out little notes saying Pet Food Drvie, which shelter, and which date/time to leave out a bag of food. Then the kids could go and pick up the food left on porches on that date. At least that's how the food drive works.

That would be 2 days really and we could focus just on one neighborhood of town. I don't know if their parents would be driving them.

Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 6:14 pm Post subject: project

http://www.columbusdogconnection.com/elevated_dog_beds.htm
These would be great to keep the pups warm and dry, off the floors in the shelters. Easy to do , just need some adult supervision. kris

Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 2:34 pm Post subject:

I love the pet food drive idea. You could combine it and also do a bedding/towels/linen drive at the same time. If you're not sure if the kids will have transportation you could arrange for them to go buddy style in a few block radius in their own neighborhoods. They could hang flyers and doorknob notices a few weeks ahead letting the neighbors know who they are and when they'll be back to pick up food and bedding left clean and bagged on their porch.
Good luck!

Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 4:04 pm Post subject:

I like the pet food drive idea but what about expanding it to be a wish list drive so people have some options for participating.

The teens could also host a bake sale or garage sale with proceeds benefitting the shelter.

They could do what we call "an infiltration" where they post info on the shelter or flyers of adoptable animals everywhere and anywhere they can think of.

Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 4:39 pm Post subject: ..

Why not have the teens split up and set up posts at different stores like Walmarts, Targets, PETCO's, supermarkets, etc. and do wish list drives at the different stores one Saturday? These are usually pretty successful because you catch people before they go into the store by giving them a wish list on a postcard, and they can either donate cash or pick up an item you need in the store.

Teens LOVE a competition, so you could always see who raised the most cash/items and give them a prize such as pizza gift certificates (you can usually find a pizza place willing to donate for a thank you in your newsletter or website). Could even spin it into a small local public interest story to get some buzz in the local paper to generate even more donations.

Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 5:01 pm Post subject:

Well we must all be fooling ourselves or wearing rose colored glasses, because these people don't really want to do any actual work. Shocked

She said she'll ask her group to hold on to "gently used items" for our 2nd annual yard sale fundraiser this summer.

We are currently approaching the university service groups to see if they can to a pet food drive for us - I hear fraternities and sororities need to so something for the "philantropy."

I'm about fed up with people's lack of intiative. I can't do all the freaking work here.

It's not just this, I've had a slough of slackers to deal with. Sorry.

Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 7:25 pm Post subject:

We sold birdhouses to raise money for the local shelter. The bird houses were made by us and the schools shop class and the local building trade school. All supplies were donated by the community and local hardware stores. You could also have dog houses built instead and provide them through the local animal control to families who may not have one or cannot afford one for their dog. Good Luck!

Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 10:51 pm Post subject:

let me get this right they are supposed to do something to help and they want to help with out doing actual work is that right I think you should have them make those no-sew blankets and give them to your local shelter it would be pricey but have them pay for thier own

Skigirl-
Are you close to any local elementary schools or have school age children? I teach fourth grade and we just had a very successful fundraiser. All we did is print a copy of a Rescues Wish List, made short AM announcements, put a large dog crate in the main lobby and the kids filled it three time over!

People also donated gently used items - dog beds, collapsable crates, blankets, etc.

The faculty even agreed to donate a buck to dress casual - that was a quick $50 cash.

I have other ideas if interested - this was simple:-)

Thank you for the suggestions. Feel free to post more Russ.

The teen club has not replied back again after I asked them about a food drive. They work with the university Rotoract Club which does very big projects (including building houses in Mexico!) and their sole purpose is to serve. Maybe I'll contact the Rotoract Club directly - since my volunteer who said she'd do this has not talked to anyone yet.

We are close to many elementary schools. (I'm in Utah - probably more children per capita than anywhere in the US!)

We did have one very nice elementary school teacher get his after school YES! club to collect dog food for their winter project. They gave us a whole jeep load full. He had his students ask local stores or their parents to donate a bad. I went to the school with my dog to get the food. That food lasted 3 days.

Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 1:57 pm Post subject:

I volunteer at an animal shelter in Western PA and most of our volunteers are adults. We also have a hard time getting teenagers and younger people from the community involved.

One suggestion might be to get together or speak with the other parents and seen if a couple can arrange a group trip to a local shelter. Many times, once the kids see how the animals live in cages and get outside once or twice a day, they soften and really want to help these poor animals.

This may be what you need to kick start their initiative Smile

Another benefit to this approach is that when the kids see their parents getting involved it seems to make them realize the need out there and that anyone can make a difference in the lives of these animals.

Karenpa

Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 4:32 pm Post subject:

No one who isn't a trusted volunteer can visit the shelter. She wants its location secret or else she gets abandoned animals night and day. It's not a city shelter or a dumping grounds for the county. It's privately owned (still is a non-profit though). The dogs would get too riled up with that many visitors too, not enough staff to keep order.

Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 6:36 pm Post subject: More Ideas for helping teens

We have a small group of High School & College Bound Volunteers.

They organized a Bowling Night (Bowl-a-thon)
Some also played in bands and were able to organzie a huge summer event with live music.

I also think they should be able to handle going out into the community to ask business if they would allow collection canisters. I am often asked while checking out at Petsmart if I want to donate a dollar to.....
Maybe they could create a card that donators could fill out with their names if they donated a dollar to the shelter.

I teach elementary age - but I'm putting them to work too. We have 4th, 5th and 6th grade artists who are fantastic! They are designing advertisements that I am going to use on canisters and newspapers.

Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 11:23 pm Post subject:

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