Donate? Volunteer? I Am Gas Broke!!!!!

Talking with fellow volunteers and donors of horse rescues, and other non for profit organizations, this week I found out I am not alone in trying to figure out a way to pay for trips to the farm to volunteer, donate toys, serve at the local soup kitchen, or even hand over canned goods to local food banks. We have all found ourselves working more and more to cover the expense of gas and other related expenses that we don’t have the actual time to dedicate to volunteering.

I have come to the conclusion it is a no win situation. We simply can’t keep up with the rising costs and this leaves the rescues and charities we support in an even harder place. How are they able to cover cost and supplement labor if donations and manpower is down? How do we help the rescues, pay our bills, and feel like we are contributing to all our goals for the horses and people who need us to help?

The Salvation Army, Goodwill, national food banks, and many other not for profit charities are seeing a major decline in donations of material goods and monetary donations. As our economy continues to be hit, week after week, and big and small business's continue to cut employees' pay, jobs, and benefits, many have stopped donating and are squirreling away pay checks.

I have been contemplating a garage sale on a large scale. Bringing lots of volunteers and donors together and making it into a weekend event for our local rescues. It’s time to look in the garage, the storage unit, and our closets and decide what we can live without.

For every unused picture frame or piece of clothing with a tag on it we could purchase a tube of wormer or a bale of hay. We could raise awareness by having our local news out to talk about horse slaughter and equine welfare. We could make a difference in a needy family’s Christmas.

Next week I am traveling to New York. I hope to gain the support of friends and family and have asked them to contribute and clean out their garages to help save a horse from slaughter or to donate for vet care to a rescued horse. Even if you only have one item to sell it can make a real difference to that one horse, one kid, or war vet who needs something…anything that let’s them know we care, we are here and that we will try harder.