WALK HAS BEEN POSTPONED!

Due to extenuating circumstances, the walk has been postponed. As it stands now, the walk will be held sometime in spring, 2010. Please check back after the holidays for updates!

Things are Moving Forward

The meeting with Dr. Henry seemed to go well. He's very supportive and has promised to place trash bins outside his two clinics for our aluminum cans. He is going to discuss our walk and our plans for the nonprofit status with his staff to see how they can best help us out. He even mentioned having a member of his staff walk with us, which would be awesome.

We're working on creating our official logo. Once that is done, we will be offering shirts and stuff for sale with our logo and info about our walk. The money raised through sale of merchandise will go toward costs associated with the walk and achieving nonprofit status.

There are expenses related to literally planning the walk that will need to be paid for or reimbursed from our very limited budget, such as the cost of printing flyers, sponsorship forms and informational materials. Plus, we will need to buy our own shirts before the walk, in order to better advertise and gain more support. We're hoping to get donations from local businesses for things such as good walking shoes, an abundant supply of water to drink, snacks for the end-of-party walk, gas money for our daily drivers, etc.

There's still lots of details to work out, but we ARE moving in the right direction and receiving positive feedback, too!

Today's a Big Day

I have a meeting with Dr. Shane Henry, a local veterinarian (he owns and operates Lake Area Animal Hospital in Melrose and Hawthorne, FL). He has expressed interest in the walk and my nonprofit charity ideas. We'll be passing by BOTH of his veterinary clinics on our walk, and hopefully we can incoorporate his clinic into the walk somehow.

He wants to hear more about it and talk to me in person today. I'm a little nervous about it but excited too. This could be the start of much bigger things for all the needy pets! Wish me luck and keep your fingers crossed!

The Final Mile - We're Having a Party!

In order to make the end of the Walk for Awareness as walk-able as possible (for as many kids, adults and possibly pets), we will be saving the final mile of the walk for Thursday, December 24 (Christmas Eve). We are openly and eagerly inviting everyone to join us!!!!!

We'll be meeting at 10:00 am that morning, at the Kangaroo gas station in Melrose, FL, at the intersection of SR 26 and SR 21. We will all walk together from there to Lake Santa Fe Park, where we will have a small end-of-walk party (beginning around 11:00 am) and collect aluminum cans from anyone and everyone who has been saving them for us.

Once again, we want to encourage you to come out and walk with us anytime during this walk, for any distance, large or small. Every step you take is a victory for needy pets and will bring us literally one step closer to realizing our dreams!

Thank you to those who have contacted us privately about this walk. Your encouragement and support is greatly appreciated!

Support My Walk for Awareness!

Cans 4 Pets is currently "just" a nationally recognized service project, registered with the national database, (serve.gov). It was created by Dylan Danforth, age 11, for the purpose of increasing awareness and funding for animal rescue agencies by collecting and recycling aluminum cans to help support unwanted, needy or homeless pets. This not only helps animals in need but motivates kids (the next generation) to action while helping to clean up our environment. Please visit Cans 4 Pets for more info.

We have very big hopes, dreams and expectations for Cans 4 Pets. But first, we need to turn the service project into a nonprofit charity, which will enable us to have a much bigger impact and also to reach a lot more pets, kids and people! We are kicking off our fund-raising efforts with a 52-mile walk for awareness through northeast Florida on December 19 - 23, 2009. We are seeking donations, sponsors and pledges for this walk on behalf of Cans 4 Pets.

All funds raised in association with this walk will be used to offset the costs of becoming a nonprofit charity. Once we’ve achieved nonprofit status, we can expand our efforts and change the lives of people and pets far and wide. Our ultimate goal is to take this idea to the farthest corners of the country, but we have to start here at home.

How can you help? Well, the most obvious way is to send us a donation or sponsorship gift, but there are other ways that you can help, too! You can sign up to walk with Dylan… and invite all your friends and family to join us. We want as many kids (and adults) to participate in this walk as possible. Let’s surpass Dylan’s wildest hopes and expectations with a really big turn-out!

You can also save your empty aluminum cans! Ask your neighbors, friends and extended family to save their cans, too! Bring them all to your nearest recycling center, then turn the funds over to Cans 4 Pets or, if you live nearby, you can bring them to the end-of-walk party on Wed., Dec. 23 at the Lake Santa Fe park off SR 26 in Melrose, FL. But don't stop there... keep collecting cans and turning them in... and donating the proceeds. The cycle is eternal, and will help more and more pets with each and every donation!

Help us spread the word, be it at work or school, church or sports event. Tell everyone you know! Become a Follower on this blog, add this link and the link to Cans 4 Pets to your bookmarks, check back often, and be sure to tell us what you think of Dylan's efforts! Just remember to be nice, because Dylan is only 11, and he is just getting started in all his endeavors!

All sponsors will be listed on the Cans 4 Pets web site. We will post pictures from each day of the walk, and each person participating in the walk. We’ll also be giving out prizes for those who raise the most money in sponsorships and donations and those who walk the most (farthest) with Dylan. Any prizes not given away for this walk will be used for future Cans 4 Pets endeavors. Dylan will also blog/journal about his daily adventures on the walk, and all information can be found on his web site.

If you would like more information, or you want to donate or sponsor Dylan, or if you want to participate in the upcoming walk, just email Dylan! He'll be very happy to hear from you and he will definitely write back! Thanks in advance for all your support!

Happy Birthday to Best Friends!

Please join me in wishing everyone at Best Friends Animal Society (two-legged and four-legged furry ones alike) the BEST YEAR EVER, as they celebrate 25 years of pet and animal rescue-work! There's lots of activities going on in celebration... feel free to check them out here!

Best Friends is truly making a difference in the lives of thousands of animals and they are an inspiration to all!

Welcome All Pet Lovers

This is my way of making a difference... I might be young but I am determined to do what I can to help all furry ones and I want you all to help me, too. I collect aluminum cans, turn them in for cash at a local recycling center, then turn that money over to my favorite local pet rescues.

Wanna help? You can do this, too!

It's easy and requires nothing but willingness, determination and love in your heart (and a few big trash bags).

You can take walks (with a parent or other responsible adult), collecting all the aluminum cans that you find along the way.

You can also ask your neighbors, friends and family to save their cans, then even offer to pick them up for them once a week and turn them in to the recycling center with your own.

You can ask your local churches, convenience stores or shopping centers if you can set up large covered trash cans with signs (indicating that they are ONLY for empty aluminum cans) dedicating them to Cans for Pets.

Just be sure to follow up on all your resources at least once a week, replenishing bags or emptying trash cans as needed.

Good luck and please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. You can also email me just to let me know that you are helping and how much money you're raising! I love success stories and this will encourage me to keep going!