Category Archives: Volunteer

Outdoor Cat Shelters Now in Stock Thanks to Merrick Gives Back

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We’re pleased to say today that we are fully stocked on outdoor shelters for our colony caretakers and their cats, so if you need one, come on by because they have been freshly made by Team Merrick!

the merrick team stands in the tree house lobby by our logo

As part of their Merrick Gives Back initiative, Merrick’s Evanston-office team members visited Tree House to build shelters that our community members can use to keep cats warm in the winter and give them a shady place to stay in the summer, too. “Give Back’ is a foundational value at Merrick,” they told us. “As a company, we believe that everyone can, and should, make a difference. This attitude of service motivates us to help each other and contribute more than is asked to our Merrick family and community.”

If you didn’t already know, all of our cats are powered by Merrick food. If you come in to visit and you see cats zooming around their colonies filled with energy, that’s because they’re filled with Merrick. If you come in and see cats snoozing away without a care in the world, that’s because they’re hard at work digesting their Merrick. Point being, all of our little guys are served Merrick foods. And we are VERY thankful for that support, because it allows us to take our worries away from meal planning and instead focus our thoughts on life saving.

Merrick also asked us if we would give them an opportunity to do something as a team to not only feed our hungry little charges but also to do something for the cat community at large. We hooked them up with our Community Cats Field Specialist Paul Nickerson (previously known to all as half of #ZZTrap until he so flippantly shaved off his beard) for a day of volunteerism.

The Merrick Team with former #ZZTrap member Paul Nickerson, seen at right with the naked face.

Merrick got to work with power tools, insulation, and upbeat attitudes building the tiny homes and refreshing our stock for the winter months ahead. The plastic tubs stuffed with insulation and straw will keep hundreds of cats dry, warm, and comfortable.They finished an incredible 140 shelters in just 3 hours. And they’re quality. We checked!

So, if you need a shelter, come to Tree House. Large ones are $35; Small ones are $25; keeping a cat warm is priceless.

  • Look at how happy volunteering makes them!
  • Focus!
  • Attention to detail!
  • Paul explains what to do.
  • Making sure no one takes those boxes.

And, if you want to find out more about becoming a colony caretaker or getting some TNR assistance in your area, OR you want to have a corporate volunteer event here, email us at infoATtreehouseanimals.org for more information.

Sending a huge thanks to Merrick for all they do for Tree House. Thank you!

Love,

Tree House.

[FTC Disclosure: Tree House has a partnership with Merrick to receive food product from them for our cats.]

Volunteers Wanted: Clinic, Pet Food Pantry, and TNR!

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Dear Everyone,

We need you. Without volunteers, Tree House would melt. Well, maybe not MELT, but we might start to sweat and then we’d have no one to help dry us off. We’d have no one to enrich the cats with bubbles and bird videos. And we’d have fewer people to insert microchips, administer vaccines, and keep track of our all-important Pet Food Pantry, which would set us behind in our goals, and the cats don’t like when Tree House gets behind in our goals.

Stormy is concerned we’ll get behind in our goals.

Volunteers help make Tree House what it is. And right now, we have a few needs:

  • Our Pet Food Pantry program needs a Manager and Assistant. Shifts are alternating Thursdays when the Pantry is open to the public. Shifts are 9-12, 12-3, and 3-6.
  • The Cat Cafe (Coming soon….we promise!) requires some assistance from Assistants who will help maintain the cafe colony room, greet visitors, and monitor visitor/cat interactions. Shifts will be Thursday through Sunday from 11:30 – 2, 2 – 4, and 4 – 6:30.

We are ready to break last year’s TNR numbers and want to hit 1,200 Spay/Neuter surgeries this year. In order to do that, we need:

  • A Spay/Neuter Admin Assistant to help with data entry and administration duties. Shifts are Tuesdays, with flexible times.
  • A TNR Assistant. This one’s more of a clinical role and will require someone who wants to learn to administer vaccines, place microchips, and other basic clinic procedures. Shifts are Tuesdays, 8-1 or 11-4.

Interested? Wait. Before you say no, think again. Think about how good it would feel to help a non-profit. Think about how cool you’d be if you said, “Yeah, I helped neuter a cat today.” Think about how light your heart will feel when you hand a family the food that will allow them to fill the belly of their furry loved one during a difficult financial time.

Now that you’ve thought about all that, visit our volunteer page and fill out some info. Our Volunteer Coordinator, Shannon, will call and have a chat with you. Then you come to an orientation. Then you pick a shift. And then the magic of giving back to your community begins. Simple!

Stormy needs you. We need you.

Love,

Tree House.

Volunteer Feature: Long-Time Supporter Shares Her Story

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A Tree House adopter and long-time supporter, Lynne recently started volunteering with our Adoption team. She shares why volunteering matters to her and about getting her “cat time”. 

How did you hear about Tree House? 

I adopted my two cats from Tree House in 1997, and I’ve been receiving Tree House mail and contributing since then.

How long have you been volunteering at Tree House? 

I’ve been volunteering for about a year. The new facility is closer to where I live, and I had decided that when Tree House’s new building opened I would volunteer.

What drew you to volunteer for Tree House? 

I believe in Tree House’s mission and how the organization takes care of its animals. My two Tree House cats lived long lives and passed away a couple of years ago. I did not know that my son is terribly allergic to cats when I adopted them (he was not living at home at the time). He would visit, but it was highly uncomfortable for him. I’ve moved into a smaller apartment and, for various reasons, I decided that I would not adopt another cat after losing my two. I am retired now and have been donating for years. I thought I might as well give my time, so this is how I get my kitty time.

After I finish my shift, I’m invited to take some “cat time”.  So I go home happy! But my son continues to ask me if I’ve brought anyone home yet.

What do you find rewarding about volunteering? 

Non-profit organizations like Tree House couldn’t be successful without volunteers. It is rewarding knowing that I can help. The Adoption Counselors are very good about thanking me and saying that my work is appreciated.  I feel like I’ve really accomplished something. This past year, I was trained on the organization’s animal and clinic database. The training offered by the staff helped me learn what I needed, and all the adoption counselors are happy to help when I get “stuck”.

Lynne helps enter data into our “cat” database. Her time and help is an important part of the behind-the-scenes work that is needed to operate our shelter (plus, she is an amazing baker and brings incredible treats for which we are so grateful!)

What do you think of the work that Tree House does and why it is important? 

In my role, I have an opportunity to read the files of admitted cats as I enter the information into the database. I am constantly amazed at the medical issues these kitties have and how much they are cared for at Tree House. Not everyone thinks that helping these cats is of value, but there are people who think it is worth it. And it takes money. The organization needs the people who work to raise the money to help these cats. It has to be incredibly expensive, and yet, it’s all done with love. I know all the Adoption Counselors love the work they do and it shows. Based on what I’ve seen, I don’t know if other shelters would take such good care of the cats.

What would you say to others who are considering volunteering at Tree House? 

If you love cats and want to do something that enables you to be around them, Tree House is a good place to be.

If you want to help a good cause, full of people who care about the animals, Tree House is a good place to be.

If you have a little extra time in your life to give to a good cause, Tree House is a good place to do it.

We are so grateful to Lynne and all of our wonderful volunteers for the hundreds of hours they give to Tree House. There are so many roles that go unseen but that are vital to enable us to do the work we do. We are making a difference in cats’ lives thanks to so many people who share our passion and support our work by volunteering. If you are interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities at Tree House please complete our volunteer application and our volunteer coordinator will follow up with you. 

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