GEORGE NEWS - Many of us would love to help animals at the local SPCA, but it can be hard if you are short of time or money. We are all so busy and on a budget after Christmas! Luckily there are many of ways to help with only a small investment of time or money.
The first step is to learn about the SPCA and their needs. Go to their Facebook page. They are constantly looking for volunteers on site and in the background, which may suit you.
1) Spread the word - tell your friends and family about the Garden Route SPCA and what they do. Share their posts on Facebook if you can.
2) Offer to walk the adoption dogs. Both you and the dogs will get some exercise and this helps the dogs socialise. Walking takes place on Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings. Call 044 878 1990 for more info.
3) Prefer to pet cats? The SPCA cattery is filled with cats that need love and attention. If you're a cat lover, take an hour once a week (or more!) to interact with the adoption cats - petting and playing with them to get them ready for a new home.
4) Donate wish list items: The SPCA has a wish list of items like dry animal food, toys, bedding, litter and various grocery products. Pick up a couple of items next time you're shopping to drop off at the SPCA. Dry food is always welcome for their Inja Bakkie project which eases the lives of dogs in impoverished areas.
5) Donate unwanted home and clothing goods to the SPCA Charity Shops in the York Street Mall Arcade, 100 York Street. Alternatively call tannie Bettie (071 353 7288) or Amy (082 055 0357) who will come and collect from you.
6) Keep your ears open for any company or business that may want to offload any products that may be useful to the SPCA: paper products (printer paper, envelopes etc.), furniture, old towels etc.
7) "Crafty" people: Make homemade toys and bedding using old T-shirts, towelling or blanket scraps. Make dog / cat toys from material off-cuts - Google will help you find many ideas! A quick search for "How to make (insert dog bed, dog toys, cat toys, etc.) will bring up loads of patterns and ideas.
8) Carpenters and DIY folk: Help out with carpentry or other skills needed to repair and improve SPCA property. Come and help build kennels for dogs in poorer areas that have no shelter - the materials are there waiting for you…
9) Website and Facebook boffins: Help the SPCA keep our web and Facebook pages current and interesting.
10) Writers: the GR SPCA has one volunteer who does all of the monthly newsletters, newspaper and internet articles / publicity and marketing. Help would be very gratefully accepted. You need not work directly with animals in need - you can do a lot with powerful words from home! Please contact Wendy at publicity@grspca.co.za. Students who would like to get published or need extra English / Afrikaans credits - please apply!
11) Offer to hang up posters for upcoming SPCA events in popular places around town. Distributing fliers and other marketing materials is an easy and important way to get the word out about the work the SPCA does and needs.
12) Have a piggy-bank on your desk at work or school and ask co-workers / friends to drop in their loose change for the SPCA - it all adds up!
13) Learners, ask your teachers for info about the SPCA or call in the GR SPCA Education Unit for a fascinating talk about the work done at the SPCA. You may ask as many questions as you like!
- Your birthday: Birthdays are the perfect way to gather donations for the SPCA. You can ask anyone attending your birthday party to bring a gift for the SPCA instead of one for you.
- Your wedding: It's getting more popular to have a no-gifts wedding registry, with the happy couple asking for donations to their favourite charities. Make yours the GR SPCA!
15) Say thank you: SPCA staff give their hearts to their jobs and are usually buried under never-ending to-do lists and urgent tasks. Little things like sending a thank you card or a plate of cupcakes shows that their effort is much appreciated. When the staff are encouraged and energised, all the animals benefit from their positive energy.
Contact the office at the George branch of the Garden Route SPCA on 044 878 1990. Thank you!
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