Pawsitive Change- In More Ways Than One…

We all have it. Loose change on the floor of our cars. Random coins buried between sofa cushions. Jars full of change we empty nightly from our pockets. These scattered coins may not seem like much, but when pooled together, loose change could mean the difference between life and death for a shelter animal at Talbot Humane.

Pawsitive Change, a community service project organized and managed by a group of 35 students from Easton High and St. Michaels High schools, will give students in all five TCPS elementary schools a place to bring spare change that will greatly benefit shelter animals. They also will be collecting canned cat and dog food. It will kick-off on Monday, Dec. 2 and run through Wednesday, Dec. 18. The Pawsitive Change project will benefit the Shiloh Fund at Talbot Humane, which allows the shelter to provide emergency medical treatment to animals that arrive at the shelter in desperate need of care above and beyond what shelters are usually able to provide. Supporting the Shiloh Fund is a great start to the holiday season of caring for and giving to others.

The Pawsitive Change project is spearheaded by EHS Sophomore Emma Langfitt, a Talbot Humane volunteer who was looking for a way to do more for the shelter animals. Emma researched and developed the program, proposed it to interim TCPS Superintendent Kelly Griffith, and when the project was approved, she solicited the help of other TCPS high school students. Alumni from Chapel, Easton, St. Michaels, Tilghman and White Marsh elementary schools will return to their old stomping grounds to talk to the younger students about what Talbot Humane does for homeless and unwanted animals in our community, and to encourage them to bring in spare change, if they can, to support the shelter. Collection cans will be placed in each elementary school classroom from Dec. 2-18. High school students will visit each classroom twice to talk to elementary students about exactly what they are raising money for and to explain that the canned food they collect will fill Talbot Humane’s pet pantry, which provides cat and dog food to people who can no longer afford to feed their animals.

The classroom that collects the most money for the Shiloh Fund will win a visit from Talbot Humane and Pawsitive Change t-shirts for the whole class.

The Shiloh Fund has helped Talbot Humane save the lives of animals such as Justice, a puppy who arrived at the shelter last winter with a leg so badly broken it needed amputation. It also helped Lily, a beautiful black lab, who came in with puncture wounds to her face and neck that needed to be drained in order to heal, and Black Pearl, a 4-month-old kitten who came to Talbot Humane with a ruptured eye that needed to be removed. The cost of these treatments is not in the normal operating budget, but because of the Shiloh Fund, their lives were saved. All of these animals are now living happy and healthy lives with their adoptive families.

EHS students returning to Chapel Elementary include: Lauren Hellman (lead), Sarah Baynard, Amelia Gunn, Sarah Fauver, Cameron Larrimore, Annie Lentz, Cassie Midcap, and Tori Weems.

EHS students returning to Easton Elementary include: Mitchell Oertel (lead), Shelby Barnes, Terra Caple, Graham Gearhart, Kathryn Gearhart, Mina Griffion, Maddie Langfitt, Max McKewen, Molly Oertel, Jon Ruiz, Emma Schumann, Jessica Thomas, Carlos Vasquez, and Luke Van Trieste.

EHS students returning to White Marsh Elementary include: Faith Stiffler (lead), Katie Claggett, Joy Coleman, Spencer Kessinger, Seaghan Lambert, Teresa Mason, Maria McCulley, and Megan McCulley.

SMMHS students returning to St. Michaels Elementary include: Grace Coughlan (lead), Kelsey Abbott, Kallie Dulley, Helen Fegan, Hannah Gill, and Julie Swaine.

SMMHS students returning to Tilghman Elementary include: Cassidy Stewart and Rebecca Weisman.

We have all heard of Black Friday & Cyber Monday- well now there is Giving Tuesday! This nation wide initiative is to encourage our communities to give back! On Tuesday December 3, 2013, global charities, families, businesses, community centers, students and more will come together to create #GivingTuesday.

It’s a simple idea. Just find a way for your family, your community, your company or your organization to come together to give something more. Then tell everyone you can about how you are giving. Be a part of a national celebration of our great tradition of generosity. We hope you choose to Give of your time or resources on Tuesday December 3rd to Talbot Humane! For more information on Giving Tuesday visit www.givingtuesday.org or contact us today on what you can do to give back to the animals!

Talbot Humane is excited to partner with the St. Michaels Running Festival as a 2014 Charity Partner. The festival has grown by leaps and bounds since 2012. “Partnering with the SMRF is a great opportunity for Talbot Humane,” states Amy Eutsey, Talbot Humane UNLEASHED founder and trainer. “Our charity running team UNLEASHED will soon enter our 3rd year. This partnership is an incredible way to raise funds for Talbot Humane, get more people moving, and help support our fellow nonprofit organizations all at once!”  The 3rd Annual Festival will be held May 17, 2014.

There are several ways to support both Talbot Humane and the 2014 Running Festival- and GET MOVING!

• Join our UNLEASHED charity fundraising team! By doing so you receive training and unconditional support from our experienced coaches, make new friends, and raise money for the animals. Seriously- this program WILL get the most serious of couch potatoes across the finish line!
• Sign up to volunteer for the event- it is a fun way to get involved in the community.
• Register your team of friends, family and co-workers to run or walk the 5K, 10K, or half marathon as part of the Talbot Humane team. You may also choose to donate or fundraise for Talbot Humane when you register.
• Of course, don’t forget to share, share, share on social media!

For more information on the festival please visit www.stmichaelsrunningfestival.com. To learn more about getting involved with UNLEASHED, contact Patty at patty@talbothumane.org.