Hello fellow boxers. I work at the Humane Society of Eastern Carolina. At our shelter we pull 70% of our animals from high-kill facilities to give them a second chance and find them homes! 30% of our animals are owner surrenders for multiple reasons... some legit, some not so much:(

I am looking at doing a local fundraising event and thought I could do a letterboxing event! Our community hasn't caught onto the world of letterboxing so I could get a lot of muggles interested in lb, provide some great stamps for those boxers that live nearby and raise some money for our shelter.

Has anyone run an event like this that could give me any pointers? I was thinking the clues could be given to those that pay a small event fee. Again, this might be more muggle heavy, but we were ALL once a muggle before we discovered the fun of boxing. In fact, I'm still a huge rookie!

Any advice would be GREAT! Thanks!

As someone who donates regularly to our local, no-kill animal shelter, I would be inclined to help. I realize dollars are most desirable, but you might get more cooperation if you just had a box hidden and suggested donations. I donated blankets, recycled carpet squares, garden hoses and watering wands, and tons of empty prescription bottles, to name a few items.

If you have a website, make sure you list your ongoing needs for all types of donations and link that to your clue text. Some will gladly give you cash donations, but please don't restrict access to the letterbox for those who do not. A letterbox could be a great way to find friend-raisers. Maybe you'll see donations later once visitors see the good work you are doing. If visitors feel pressured to pay for clues, you will probably not get the desired result.

Good luck!

I like the suggestions! Of course money is what keeps us open, but I am all about education, volunteers and spreading word of what we do, too! The animals love treats as well:) Maybe I can finish off the event at an open house at the shelter and the last box is hidden within!

Keep the ideas coming. I LOVE IT!

P.S. To see what we do, visit www.HSECarolina.org or https://www.facebook.com/HSECarolina?ref=hl&ref_type=bookmark to follow us on facebook. THANKS!

May I also suggest some carves based on some of the photographed rescues? Maybe put happy stories of them making a good recovery/beating the odds and finding a wonderful home thanks to average folks.

I'd be happy to contribute a portrait stamp for the cause. I don't have money but we've donated blankets, beds, stainless steel bowls, treats, etc. in the past. It's great when you find smaller rescues that treat their animals very well and make sure the homes they go to are a perfect fit.

maybe accepting unopened food as donations? Our local shelter is always accepting food to help feed the wonderful rescues.

Due to a contract we have with Hill's Science Diet that gives us our food for free as long as we pay shipping (which gets pricey... ouch!), we cannot use any other food for our animals. It's actually the best for them and their bellies too so they aren't always switching brands. We are very lucky to be a part of that program:) Thanks for the suggestion.

I think a combination SHELTER fundraiser / Letterboxing event is a good idea.

I wouldn't necessarily make people PAY for clues .... or charge a COVER CHARGE per say .....
but there are other ways to make money for the rescue ..... combining it with letterboxing fun.
Perhaps you could ask people to carve FURRY FRIEND stamps ..... or send leftover stamps from Postals, LTC's, whatever ...... .. put letterboxes together and raffle them off, for people to take home to plant. Put them in gift bags labeled "Basset Hound Dog", "German Shepherd Dog", "White Angora cat", "PLUTO" "GARFIEND" , etc .
They could each include a Letterboxing tutorial ...... in case a MUGGLE ends up with it. It would be a nice way to introduce people to letterboxing and raise money at the same time, without being PUSHY about EITHER.

You could have a few table top boxes too, with clever dog or cat containers.

Dina B. Seeker