give back

Next up, let's focus on a way to Give Back something you love – Have any passions you could share with your local shelter, animal care and control, humane society or rescue? Say, for example, you tried to find volunteer or donation information on their website . . . only to realize that they don't have one. Here are a couple talents you could use to help them get the word out:

• Web designers: Offer to help improve or set up a website for needy shelters. PS, it's easier than ever to get them started using our very own OnSugar platform.

Find more suggestions when you read more

You may recognize this Kuranda from visits to animal shelters in your town: chewproof with no corner gaps to bite (all fabric's encased in a poly-resin sleeve), these beds are built to last. I'm thinking another reason they're so popular is how easy they are to clean and keep clean, raised off the ground in case of "accidents."

Which brings up my latest Give Back suggestion – purchasing this product for your local establishment. Kuranda’s “Donate A Bed” program lets you buy at 30 to 35 percent off retail prices, and send directly to the rescue organization of your choice in your name. It's super easy, too, as they've created an extensive, searchable database to pick and ship the bed directly to a shelter near you!

Times are tight and it's important to know where your dollars are going! Not that I'm discouraging cash, credit card, or check donations to reputable sites, sometimes you just want to help the shelter down the street, not the nationwide organization.

If you're unsure of your local facility's current (or future) needs, consider a gift card or certificate to local pet supply or grocery stores or even office supply or home improvement chains. While many post specific, evergreen requests, most any will be able to use this gift to buy exactly what's topping their list at any given time, taking out the guesswork, and leaving your good deed in their hands.

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If you're planning on keeping a tidier home this year, get started right in the linen closet. Behind my closed doors, I've got enough old blankets, sheets and towels to do wondrous things . . . I don't actually do.

Realizing I don't need eight spare towels to dry off a car that I never wash myself, as well as not hosting enough guests back-to-back to require four sets of aerobed bedding, I laundered my spare linens and brought them to my local humane society. Act like me and contact your local shelters to see which items you can let go to animals in need.

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