When I was a kid, my brother, sister and I used to play what we called “store” with our junk drawers. We would haul out any of the stuff we wanted to “sell,” put a money figure on it and set up shop.
Each of us would have our own store and each of us would browse at the other’s emporium, such as it was.
I still remember looking forward to seeing whether or not my brother or sister would be “selling” something I’d had my eye on for a while and how much he or she wanted for it.
We would take the money out of our piggy banks – just piles and piles of change – and try to bargain each other down.
I know you’re worried that I’ve finally gone off the deep end by waxing philosophic about a childhood game I played with my siblings, but as with most of my bizarre ramblings, again, I have a point.
There are a variety of ways we raise money at the Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter, which include donations, adoptions, purchases at and donations to our thrift store, memorial contributions, estate bequests, and fundraisers.
There are two other avenues through which we collect funds that may seem somewhat surprising – and the one connects with my childhood game of “store.”
We have, throughout the area, what we call pet banks. They are decorated coin containers that we have placed at a variety of businesses, with a little card including information about the shelter.
And I gotta tell ya, I’m surprised at how well those little buggers work. Because they are typically placed by the cash registers, people will put their spare change inside the pet banks. Plus we get a number of dollar bills out of them as well. The generosity of this community never ceases to amaze me.
It truly does go to show you that there are a number of animal-lovers in these parts who know that every little bit not only helps but can add up to some serious funds. And for that, all of us at the shelter are extremely grateful.
In addition to our pet banks, as another source of income, we recycle aluminum cans. We have a little fenced area beside our shelter where we collect them, and it often amazes me how many people will stop by just to put a bag of cans in that little section of our parking lot.
We do ask that you put them in a bag and tie the bag shut so we’re not chasing Pepsi, Coke and beer cans all over the parking lot.
I never would have thought that collecting aluminum cans could help the homeless animals, but the funds raised through this process really do provide much needed assistance. We make, literally, hundreds of dollars a month from our pet bank and aluminum can fundraisers.
Running an animal shelter is sometimes a tough business because we couldn’t survive on the money we receive from adoptions alone. Therefore it takes some creative thinking to come up with ways to bring in more capital. And we’re always looking.
I know that there are a lot of animal-lovers out there who for whatever reason – apartment rules, finances, time or space – can’t adopt an animal. But it’s important for people to realize there are many other ways to help.
Start collecting your aluminum cans and bringing them to the shelter. The money we receive from them goes to the care of our critters, including medicine and cleaning supplies. When you see an animal shelter pet bank at a store, drop some change inside. Your coins could help spay or neuter one of our adoptable felines or canines.
Believe me when I tell you, in the world of an animal shelter, no contribution is ever too small – and we all appreciate every, single penny.
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Jennifer Vanderau is the Publications and Promotions Consultant for the Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter and can be reached at cvascomm@cvas-pets.org. The shelter accepts both monetary and pet supply donations. For more information, call the shelter at 263-5791 or visit the website www.cvas-pets.org. CVAS also operates a thrift store in Chambersburg. Help support the animals at the shelter by donating to or shopping at the store.
