School donation collection I need help making flyers for pet supplies to donate to local shelter

[CouponQueen23]

Ok my son and neices and their friens all help out at a local animal shelter they all go to the shelter on saturdays and help feed the cats and give the cats attention, sometimes on sundays they go on warm days to help with the dogs. There is a lady who goes there and they all take 2 dogs and walk. During the summer months they get the dogs out twice a week the kids go there on wednesdays too.

So after the kids have talked they have come to the conclusion they want to make flyers to have sent home from school to encourage people to donate old balnkets and pet dishes supplies and what not. They talked this over with the shelter and they thought it was a great idea. The shelter is helped run by a second hand store in our town donations can be made there and and second hand items brought there and sold the proceeds go to the shelter. I guess my post here is to see if some one here might beable to help get me started. I have never played a part in getting something started. I will not be personally talking to people it will be up to me to get something put on paper to help get the ball rolling, Encourage people to adopt, donate weather it be pet supplies or even donate their unwanted items that would be sold at the shop. I am looking for ideas for a flyer. Thanks anyone who might beable to point me in the right direction

[kval07]

Do you have a list of items that the shelter needs?

[cintinative]

here is a list of supplies that our local feral cat rescue asks for:
Ohio Alleycat Resource & Spay/Neuter Clinic - donations for cats and kittens

[sweeneycat]

Get a picture of an adorable kitten (I can send you one if needed). Make up a poster saying "Is there a Little Something missing in your life? Adopt a Friend for Life" Then fill in the info --where & when to go to adopt or what donations are needed. The lower edge is the telephone # repeated over and over vertically so people can rip it off.

Alternate: Get a picture of a handsome adult cat. Make a poster saying: "Looking for a guy who is willing to make a commitment? Max can offer you a lifetime of love, cuddling on the couch and purring in your arms. Then give the same info and the same tear-off phone numbers. Post anywhere there are women-- beauty salons, nail salons, bars, restaurants, laundermats, etc.

[3timesoccermom]

The first thing you will need to do is check with the superintendent of your son's school and find out if this is allowed and if it is to get the flyer design approved by the appropriate person(s). Be prepared, they may say no, if they say yes, they are basically opening things up to allow others to send home their own special interest flyers and theirs may not be as noble as yours.

If you get approval, you will need to follow any special instructions they have, for example size of flyers. I always did a combination of several large poster-board sized announcements placed in the highest traffic areas of the schools and the 8 x 11 sheets of paper kids could take home (though many will not, and even more will take them home but not get them out of the backpack).

If you only want to distribute in one school that's quite a bit easier but if there are several smaller schools in your district (pre-k, elementary, middle school, junior high, high) that you are trying to involve you will then likely have to request that each principal make these available to each teacher for every class. Don't be surprised if they don't give a rat's rear whether these reach the students or not they have other things on their mind.

If you have several schools maybe you'd want to implement this plan in phases - Pre-k in February, Elementary in March, etc., this would also address current needs. Obviously you aren't going to need as many blankets in May as you would in February.

You may want to request permission to put a large box at each school to hold the collection items and your son and others can come pick them up at their leisure. If you were lucky and the school really got behind the efforts (maybe at least your son's campus would do this) you could see about holding a contest to see which classroom is able to collect the most stuff and that class would receive a reward - breakfast foods or something fun. Some teachers can find a way to work this into their lesson plans and really run with it.

For posting around the school think eye-catching, big, but as few words as possible. For sending home, if there will be many copies involved I'd make them 2 per 8 x 11 sheet. Less waste this way. Make it brief, very legible and eye-catching.

Good luck!!! Let me know how it turns out or if you have any other questions.

Also it's really great that your son and nieces, etc., volunteer. I don't get any idea how old they are but in addition to it being its own reward, volunteering is a great help for entrance in the National Honor Society and to help obtain scholarships.

[CouponQueen23]

Thanks everyone for your responses We have made flyers and were able to post them in a few locations, The kids were able to send home a informative letter intoducing the shelter who they are and where the shelter is located how to make doantions for food, treats,blankets litter and toys and telling that all profits from donations at the local thrift store all profits go toward the care and upkeep of the homeless animals. the kids feel really good about being able to help out with this is is a samll step but makes them feel good they are trying to make a difference.

Also my 5 year olds school is going to be celebrating their 100 day of school. I am trying to gather pictures of animals from the local shelters in the area. I am going to come up with 100 pictures and together Ds and I will make a poster of 100 Homeless pets in our area, This poster will get displayed at the school, I will include numbers to the shelters and a web address so anyone interested in to looking more into in can know where to go. Another small step but maybe it will make a big difference in the end :)