People who have been reading my blog for a while know that I am a big proponent of helping animals in whatever way you can. It’s easy to be intimidated by big productions and think, “There’s no way I’m going to organize a $200,000 fundraiser. All I have is $5/an old towel/5 minutes to spare.”
This spring, I was fortunate enough to meet some amazing people at BlogPaws- people who felt, as I did, that there is no bottom or top limit on what determines importance. Anything, and everything, matter. I was so inspired by Lynn of pawpawty fame, Dorian at YourDailyCute, Jane at Petfinder, and Caroline at Romeothecat. As a group, we decided to issue a challenge for everyone to jump on in and get involved.
No one could have anticipated the response. It was huge. HUGE. Bloggers and Tweeters and Facebook aficionados came together, those from BlogPaws, those who couldn’t go, and all agreed that yes, we can do more.
The first Be the Change Challenge took place on April 16th. The original idea was for everyone to blog in order to raise funds for Pets Without Parents, an organization selected at random during the Be the Change presentation at BlogPaws. And plenty of people did just that- the original $500 goal ended up surpassing $2000 when all was said and done.
But people came up with all sorts of ideas- e-tailers made donations, people blogged about local rescues and causes dear to their hearts, made lists of ways to help, committed to volunteering. It added up, in a big way.
The fantastic BlogPaws organizers who made advocacy a priority for the conference want to continue this arc, as do we all. It’s time to start plotting again.
Part One: Staying connected
This is probably one of the biggest hurdles: finding a way for everyone to keep in touch and keep talking. BlogPaws will have a Be the Change for Pets section up on the blog very shortly, but in the meantime we’re establishing some real estate on the one place everyone seems to be these days: Facebook.
Be the Change for Pets on Facebook is here!
Please join us (I guess I should be asking, “Please like us?”) where we can all cheer each other on, share ideas, and see how this ongoing campaign is making a difference.
It’s also a place where those of you who are doing amazing things on your own (I’m looking at you, Surf Dog Ricochet!) can also share your activities. While the Be the Change team has activities we’ve come up with and are excited about, there are also so many amazing people out there doing similarly wonderful things and we want to celebrate and be inspired by them all.
Part Two: The Next Challenge
The Second Ever Blog Paws Be the Change Challenge will be starting next week! Check out the link for the challenge- a food or supplies donation to your local shelter. It is easy. It is fun. You can do it, and so can your grandmother. If you missed out last time, this is your chance to be a part of something bigger than yourself. It will rock.
We have some flyers you can print out and stick on your donation- we’re hoping to get as many as people as we can to upload a picture of themselves with their donation to the FB wall- what better way to kick off this adventure? I really hope you all will join me.
And last but not least, I leave you with this:
It’s what we’re all about here.
Thanks for the shout out! I’ve already contacted Romeo’s mom, and I’m on board for next week’s challenge. I’M IN!! Can’t wait!
Yaay! Maybe Brody and Ric could do a tandem donation!
Nikki & I are very excited about this new challenge. We’re trying to decide which shelter to gather food donations for and I’m trying to come up with a way to get more local people involved.
Hooray! 😀 I was debating trying to incite a flash mob with dog food but I don’t know how that would work. 😉
What an amazing post! Thank you so much for sharing with everyone where it all started and that they can make a difference. Going to go and write my post now. Hope its ok that I am “borrowing” your video.
Felissa, Davinia, and Indiana
http://www.twolittlecavaliers.blogspot.com
Of course! 🙂
Things like this give me the good kind of shivers down to my toes. I’m so honored to be apart of such a kick ass group of pet lovers!
Ooooo, so I am doing an event, talking about feeding dogs, at a street fair type of event 2 Sundays’ from now. I’m going to see if they’ll let me do a collection drive there too.
I have to figure out the logistics though because bringing everything up to a 3rd floor walkup (plus finding space for it in my NYC apt…..), will brainstorm this. Hope to be able to get it together.
I’ll promote this on the pet column I write for Guideposts magazine website. I’ll let you know when it’s up!
Wow, I am always amazed at the talented and passionate people we have helping BlogPaws Be the Change for Pets. This is going to be so fabulous – because the pet community really does step up for challenges that help pets. Dr. V – this post is outstanding! I mentioned it at Scratchings and Sniffings… in a post that will go live July 15th (tomorrow). Mwah!
amazing!! Just found this and I am so in! I am going to look around some more and see what I can do.