So, you are a volunteer.
You love dogs or cats or both.
And you want to help.

But you don’t know what to do or where to start;

Or maybe you want a contained project?

What we have below are several projects which would help out our organization in a variety of ways!

Some of them require certain skills – some anyone can do:
Some are a one time deal – some can be done over and over:
Most can be done in a month – a few are on-going.
So, here is the list – Board members will add more off and on.
The person to contact about that project is listed.
If you are interested email us at petsconnect@petsconnect.org
If you are looking for projects for a child, or children’s group please email us direct and we will be happy to suggest a few.

Blanket/towel drive: Contact person: Shanin

This is a nice project if you work in an office or have a large network of people to contact. Basically, a donation drive requesting blankets and towels.
Volunteer is responsible to see that the items are clean – you may need to launder them, and distribute them to fosters/volunteers. This distribution may take place at a central location or at one of our already scheduled events. The nice thing about this project is that leftover items can be donated to a local charity.

This project is self contained and can be done over and over.

Increase number of Vet’s willing to work with our program: Contact person: Shanin
Secure more vets who would be willing to work with us.
This project would entail drafting a letter to be mailed to local vets. The letter would be on PetsConnect letterhead and would lay out the benefits both from a rescue (saving animals) as well as a business (bring in customers) point of view as well as pointing out that we pay our bills.
Ideally, focus on vets that are in proximity of those we currently have fostering which means finding out what vets that would be.
The letter would be followed up with a phone call or/and in person visit.
In person visit would include a package to give to the vets: latest newsletter/brochure/business cards/free pens, etc

Would the vets be willing to do a reduction in charges for our animals?
Cost for spaying and neutering dogs/cats?

If not a lower cost, is there some sort of relationship they would like to have?
For Example: Can we do a fundraiser at their office?
Would they like to sponsor one of our fundraisers?

This is a one time project and would take up to 3 months.
Volunteer would work closely with Shanin.

 

Sew Table cloths for adoption events
Contact person: Sebrina
We have two bolts of material.
This material needs to be sewn into table cloths to fit four foot, two foot and six foot tables.
Material needs to be measured, and then cut straight hemmed nicely.
It’s important that this be done well as these are used in the public and represent us.

This is a one time only project and requires some seamstress abilities.

Petfinders
Contact person: Sebrina
Update petfinders, specifically the cats.
Volunteer needs to be self motivated, able to look at our website and see what cats need to be put up on petfinders.
Volunteer should have some knowledge of cats, and be trustworthy.

This is a on going project and for seasoned volunteers only.

Foster Data Base
Contact person: Sebrina
Create a data base using x-cell for to track foster animals.
Part of this project it determining what would need to be in the data base.

This is a one time project.  Skills in x-cell important.

BLOG BLOG BLOG
Contact person: Sebrina and Jaime
Willing to put up blogs:
1) Blog about animals in our program, Work with specific volunteers who foster but can not blog to create blogs of their animals.
Need to be able to work well with others, have access to a computer, ability to get photos as jpg files to put up on the blog.
Takes 10 – 20 minutes per blog

2) Create blogs about specific subjects:
we could really use some good, informative, easy to read, fun to read, blogs about cat care …. these would be ones that we could hyperlink from the website as well as the e-newsletter to.

For example:

** why declawing is not favorable, 

** what soft paws are …..

** do cats really suck out the breath of babies, and other mythologies alive and well which lead to many cats loosing their homes (and often their lives);

**how to train a kitten — a lot of people are amazed when I tell them that letting kittens run rampant is NOT a good thing.. they have to be trained ….how to train them….

**what does it mean that we are an all foster home?  the benefits, the limitations.

This is an on going project.

  Soft Paws:

Contact person: Sebrina
the soft paws for the cats have arrived — work with fosters on how to put them on, and how we distribute them, and our Cat adoption information sheet would need to reformulated.

This is an on going project, requires travel.

Grant Writing

Contact person: Sebrina and Jennifer P.
we have several ideas for grants … work on writing one.  some are simple, for example, asking Bayer if they would donate two micro scopes… or finding someplace to donate two micro scopes.

Foster Handbook:
Contact person: Shanin
Shanin is working on a foster handbook. She could use some help. The work would entail writing, editing, researching, talking to those volunteers who are fostering.

Newsletter:
Contact person: Sebrina
Jaime was a primary newsletter writer …. We would like to put one out three times a year. These are upbeat, say what we are, what we are doing, why we are doing it. I can share past issues to give one a feel for what we do. Volunteer would need writing skills and have an understanding of our ideology.

Clean the Cat Adoption Centers:
Contact person: Mishawaka PetSmart, Sebrina: South Bend, PetSmart: Kim, Petco, Cindy
Volunteers to scoop litter boxes, fill water dishes, food dishes and give the cats a bit of attention!

2011 PetsConnect Calendar Fundraiser: Sebrina, Laurie and Laurie
Sales/distribution/tracking:
We have been approved once again for our calendar.
We need a responsible volunteer with attention to details and time to help with the sales aspect of the calendar. Ideas include approaching business’s we have a relationship with to see if they will sell calendars for us, working with volunteers on calendar sales, a mailing for sales, etc. Also keeping track of where the calendars are and making sure they are paid for.

Scrapbooking: Sebrina
We have three little scrap books. One is at Kryders – two could go elsewhere that would encourage people to adopt. It’s simple, just update with new dogs/cats as the ones in the scrap book are adopted! Some skills for scrapbooking might be nice but not necessary.  Travel required – need to be able to take scrap books to their destination.

Laundry: Sebrina
After each stint at the adoption centers we have, you guessed it, laundry! It would be fantastic if a volunteer stepped up and did just this: come by during break down, pick up the laundry, clean it, store it, then bring it back when we set up. You can go to the laundry mat if you don’t want to use your washing machine. Having sweet smelling laundry is such a wonderful thing for the cats!

Travel to pick up and drop off laundry required.

  Take a dog for a day: Sebrina, Shanin
If you would like to come up to my home and pick up one of my foster dogs to take for a day, to the park, that would also be great. You must pick up and drop off at the foster home – we cannot deliver them to you.

Fundraisers
Fundraisers are the backbone of our organization.
We have several in the works:
The Calendar – see above note.
Tails of Love – committee members needed: here are a few of the skills we are looking for: management skills, salesperson skills, ability to work with time lines, ability to interface with the band, theme design, decorating for an event, secure auction items, publicity person.