Paper Towel Drive

Each year we hold a "Paper Towel Drive'' to collect donations of assorted paper goods and supplies to distribute to local wildlife rehabilitators. Wildlife rehabbers are volunteers who dig into their own pockets for everything the animals in their care need. They get licensed/trained on their own, build their own cages, and pay for all of the supplies. There is no government funding available to these people, and because of the financial burden, many have to limit or totally eliminate their services. There are many supplies that can only be purchased through vets or by special order. On the other hand, there are supplies that can be picked up at the local grocery store or pet shop that use up a large portion of the rehabbers meager budget, and these are the items that we request during our Paper Towel Drive.

Your Donations Are Important
Many of our readers have contributed to our donation boxes, and we are truly grateful. Everything collected has been put to good use. Here is where we have to get a little pushy. Last year the paper towel drive response was the worse we ever had. Perhaps it was the poor weather, or maybe you just did not realize how important your donations are. This year we have to do better. When we call on a rehabber to help with an animal, and they tell us that they need supplies, we want to be able to deliver!! We really need the following:

Paper towels
KMR
Esbilac
Unflavored Pedialyte
Single ingredient baby foods
Lafeber and Exact baby bird formulas
Carefresh animal bedding
Peanut butter

Raw nuts
Dawn original dishwashing
Liquid bleach
Laundry soap
Cotton balls
Cotton swabs
Baby blankets
Cotton quilts and blankets (gently used no holes, please)

Babies Have To Be Fed
These are not expensive items if you need one of each, but when you are cleaning multiple cages and feeding dozens of animals, things really start to add up. A small litter of raccoons can cost between $25 and $40 per day to feed on formula purchased at a pet shop. When you run out of formula and money those babies still have to be fed. The rehabbers labor is non-stop, and the mess never ends, but you can help by picking up a few extra items next time you go to the store. If you want to make a donation the boxes will be at the drop off locations this March. Call us for the location closest to you. If you are a part of an organization and would like to collect donations for us, we would be happy to provide you with a wish list and literature to hand out to your members. Let's see if we can make this the best year ever for the Paper Towel Drive, and the best year ever for the wild ones who need care!