 Despite a great love for wildlife, some people just can't manage to come out to the facility and volunteer. Some who would like to help live too far away, some have schedules that don't permit a regular volunteer shift, and many who would love to help are children. Liability issues prevent us allowing kids younger than 18 to work onsite.
However, in recent months, the community has shown a groundswell of creative energy toward supporting Liberty Wildlife's efforts to save injured and orphaned wildlife.
A third-grade class at Tesseract School held a read-a-thon and raised over $700 to sponsor the great horned owl Hedwig. The money they raised was far more than was required to sponsor Hedwig, so the class was able to actually sponsor the entire great horned owl foster program. These kids provided food for 53 orphaned owls. As a thank-you gesture, Liberty Wildlife presenters went to the classroom with Hedwig so the kids could meet her, and also brought several other owls. The class is so excited about helping the wildlife that they are now working on a wish list of much needed supplies that they will give to Liberty Wildlife as Christmas presents.
A couple of middle-school students, daughters of a former Liberty Wildlife volunteer, made beautiful and authentic nests that will be used at the facility for fostered orphans. One of the nests was recently installed on a nest platform for a great horned owl pair in Marana, Arizona. See related article.
A community service-oriented group in Glendale, made up of several business owners including Jed Longhurst of the Mighty Cup Coffee Shop, held a raffle and silent auction that netted $801 to assist wildlife. Jed says, "We wanted to help wildlife, and Liberty Wildlife especially appealed to us because they are non-discriminatory, they help all wildlife in need." The group also held a garage sale that made $100, and another fund-raiser is in the works. All of the funds were donated to Liberty Wildlife.
Nineteen students from an accelerated group of 7th- and 8th-grade students at Dobson Montessori School chose an organization that they would like to support. The students researched various groups, and two picked Liberty Wildlife. They then created a work of art that represented that organization, and the art was displayed at the 101 Gallery on Mesa's Second Friday Night Out evening in October. Dobson Montessori teacher and partial owner of the gallery, Trevor Woodford, commented, "Hundreds of people came out to visit the restaurants and galleries. The students were the featured artists in 101 Gallery, which held a silent auction of their works. Every piece of art was purchased, netting over $2000." All of the money was donated to the charity organizations the students had championed.
As the habitats of wildlife continue to get swallowed up, and as wild animals sustain injuries caused by contact with cars, windows and bullets, it is heartening to find that people do care and are willing to sacrifice to help local wild animals. Liberty Wildlife provided food, medical care and nurturing for over 4000 animals in the past year, and did so on donations. We are grateful for your help! We are especially thankful for children who help, and in the process learn about wildlife, and learn the powerful lesson that they can make a difference.
Some fund-raising ideas for groups include bird counts, recycling programs, student-created wildlife notecards, read-a-thons and wish list drives. Call 480-998-5550 for more information.
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