Go! Club at Open Doors

I've mentioned before the kids love doing philanthropic activities when we are together.  In November we checked out Open Door Animal Sanctuary with a small donation.  They passed with flying colors (you know it's true...some people running charities are just jerks).

 The kids asked if we could go back, so in December we did just that!

But first we made a stop at the local grocery store.  Their 'want' list in hand, we shopped and explained to the kids why each item was important.  Little Bird pulled out the bags of cat litter and got them stuffed under the shopping buggy.

Little Hoss checked things off his list.

Two buggies later and it was load-the-car time.

They wanted to do the work themselves, so of course we let them.  Ownership is a huge thing and they were both owning it!

Hoss getting some help from his Unca.

A short time later we were backed up to the front door with all our stuff.  This area is the offices and "Cat City".

In the other direction are where the dogs are housed.

"Ownership" continued as bags were toted inside.

Once done we were invited to hang out in "Cat City".

Wow.

Couches for cats and people.

And beds for everyone.

Little Bird found a friend...

...who followed her all over the room.  She SO wanted to take him home.  We explained that her Mom would kill me if she took him.  And that he was safe right there with all his kitty friends until someone came to take him to his very own forever home... just like we took Persia.  She liked that.

In the doghouse?  Not this time! 

We also had a chance to talk about protecting animals when they saw this guy who was recovering from an injury.  He's out in one of the nice exercise pens they have.

http://odas.org/

Open Door Animal Sanctuary (ODAS) was founded in 1975 by Mrs. Joan Costello-Oetting and Mrs. Carol (Marlin) Perkins, wife of the late Marlin Perkins (OK...they had me there.  Anything attached to the Perkins has a "go" in my book), former host of Wild Kingdom and Director of the St. Louis Zoo. Had it not been for their compassion, vision and hard work, Open Door Animal Sanctuary would not exist today; and if not for Open Door, thousands of injured, abandoned and unwanted cats and dogs would have been unnecessarily euthanized.

Open Door Animal Sanctuary is the largest no-kill sanctuary in the greater St. Louis area and State of Missouri. We serve the community by taking in stray, abused, neglected and otherwise unwanted cats and dogs and placing them up for adoption. Each day we provide shelter, food, medical care and LOVE to over 400 animals. Every animal that comes to us has a home and a second chance at life. If you are looking to adopt a dog or cat, we have the most animals to choose from in the area! 

GO! Club: Giving Back

Back in October when we went Operation Christmas Child shoebox shopping with the kids, they had so much fun they wanted to do more.

Alrighty then!

Himself and I brainstormed on how we could do something each time we visit.  We got the idea to do a mission project each time (when we come up, we always have a day with the kids while their parents head out for a 'date day'.)

The four of us are our own club... the GO! Club (GO... God's Opportunities).

Before hand Himself and I find some things we can give goods to (money concept is still fuzzy with them).  Then we have a 'meeting' and discuss what we are going to give to this time, why they need assistance, and who it will be helping.

They ask amazing questions.

Our first giving was in November.  The Jefferson County Rescue Mission was getting stocked up on items for their Christmas food boxes.  I called ahead to find out what they were short on so we could get what was most needed.

At the grocery store Little Bird and Little Hoss picked what flavor they each wanted to donate, and counted out their portion (gotta get some educational benefits in this too!).

Then we delivered it.

I was amazed and grateful at how the staff reacted to the donation.  I had explained that this was a project we were doing with the kids -- and they treated them like they were adult donors!  Thank you's were directed to them (with winks at us) and then they were offered a tour of the facility!  The gentleman talked to them at a level they could understand and answered all their questions in a gentle way.

We'll be coming back there...

Then came December... and the Missouri flood.

This time they wanted to help the displaced pets.  ALL God's creatures, don't you know.

The area Humane Society was taking pets of people who were displaced and boarding them until the family could come back to get them.

We headed to Walmart to get dog food, cat food, and cat litter.  We talked about why we were not going to buy the cheap stuff (upset pet tummys).  Then they dragged out the supplies and loaded the buggy.  Uncle Himself helped when needed.

We drove over to the donation area where they off-loaded their donation.  Once again the person receiving our donation was wonderful in their response to the kids.

I wonder what we'll be doing next visit!?