Week 29 - Rescued Critters Food Drive

Hi Folks,

PACC Opens the Door

to a Better Neighborhood

After talking pointedly about Pima Animal Care Center and the needs of their 17,000 charges for the past 28 week, suddenly lots of simmering ideas in the neighborhood came to life this weekend. Folks were now conversing with me about cleaning allies and turning one into a butterfly sanctuary, free spay and neuter clinics, clearing walkways beside two large homes and planting African Daisies in the gardens of three other homes.

Then Betsy on 13^th Street and her son, Ed told me about a social entrepreneurship grant they are writing to fund a tree planting program throughout the Miles Neighborhood. I told them I would gladly introduce them to all the neighbors … for them, the most difficult aspect of their program … but so easy for me.

Well, none of the conversations were really just talk. By Monday noon all three allies were cleaned and ready for a brisk weed-whacking. That will happen Tuesday. 

For years I have been talking about clean allies so I cleaned my alley. That stopped my immediate neighbors from tossing stuff over the walls. I also requested those big green roll offs every six months. Again, nary a word from anyone, but the roll offs always left the neighborhood nearly filled to the brim. When it came to folks placing huge items like stoves or mattresses wherever or whenever they pleased, I quietly took care of those.

What suddenly changed? It has to be PACC and the joy folks feel inside when they donate every week to feed the dogs and cats and rabbits. That warm feeling took 28 weeks to ware down their protective shields to a point where they could say, “Hey, I need a little help with something that bugs me.” But the best part is they are now staying connected and continue to help right back.

Imagine if one person in each of the 130 neighborhoods in Tucson started to collect donations for Pima Animal Care Center. This would be one fine community service city in 28 weeks. And no hungry rescues anywhere.

We donated lots of leashes, food bowls, harnesses, collars, a Smurf hat, 42.6 lbs. of pet food and $58.90 in cash and two checks.

See you Sunday,

Peter

Week 28 - Rescued Critters Food Drive

Hi Folks,

Seven Envelopes and a $2.00 Bill

It really was a lucky St. Paddy’s Day Sunday. About halfway through my route, white envelopes started to appear in a number of screen doors. That meant no one was home but they didn’t forget about PACC and our food drive.

Normally, only two neighbors have an envelope with their donation waiting for me. I put a check mark on the envelope in lieu of the Thank You card, and place it back in the door. Sunday there were five more envelopes which create a little excitement when I got home.  

It’s like lots of presents for PACC. The disassembled envelopes show the lack of patience with the sticky-seal.

The best surprise was a $2.00 bill which I had not encountered in a while. The associate at PACC who logs our weekly donation, told me that when she was a kid, she would get $2.00 bills and never spend them. “I wish I could do

that with $20.00 bills,” I said. She smiled and agreed.

This week we donated 44.6 lbs. of pet food, 4 pill bottles and $81.04 in cash and two checks.

See you Sunday,

Peter

Week 27 - Rescued Critters Food Drive

Hi Folks,

African Daises                          30 lbs. of Cat Food

Lots of people know Armando, but more know about and are intrigued by his prolific African Daisy garden which covers the corner of S. Highland Avenue and E. 13^th Street every spring and summer. This year, for some reason, those colorful flowers have spread across the street and way down the block. And now they have a stronghold in my alley between Highland and Vine because I planted more than a score of seedlings last year.

My friend Steve who lives on the corner of S. Vine and 13^th Street asked me in January to help him start his own garden of African Daisies. To oblige, I gave him a planter box with 50 seedlings which he promptly planted.

The weather has not been pleasant for the past two month but fortunately these daisies are quite hardy and Steve’s garden took hold. So much so he was motivated to return the favor and give me a 30 lb. bag of cat food for PACC.

A week earlier my friend Marci, who lives on E. 12^th Street above S. Cherry, asked me about the African Daisies because she walks her Boston Terrier through my alley now and again. Well, this past Sunday, I gave her a bunch of seeds and planted a couple of thriving plants outside her front door. And more seedlings are on the way to her if we can ever get the sun to hang around.

If anyone else would like to start your own African Daisy garden just let me know. In about a week I will have at least 80 seedling to give away. In fact, I can even help you plant them which is a very simple task.

The care and feeding of African Daisies is as easy as caring for a Pet Rock, if you remember those days. Plant the seedlings, water lightly now and again and just stand back to watch them grow … slowly at first. At the end of the season, you tear out the dead flowers and then early next spring you will observe seedlings growing all by themselves. It really is that easy.

So when you see me on Sunday, let’s talk Daisies in the Miles Neighborhood. I know you will be as pleased as Steve and that is really good for PACC.

Daisies Make the Difference

This week we donated 45.4 lbs. of pet food, 5 bullies sticks, a bag of soft chews and $61.25 in cash and one check.

See you Sunday,

Peter

Week 26 - Rescued Critters Food Drive

Hi Folks,

Halfway Home and 687.7 lbs. Ahead of Schedule

Haley sniffed most of the food items during the photo shoot

and then just sat and gazed at the money. I've seen humans

do that, too.

Our Rescued Critters Food Drive started on September 9, so we just completed our 26^th week meaning we’re now entering the home stretch. The goal, of course, is to donate 4,333 lbs. of pet food to PACC in one year. You’ll be happy to learn that to date we have donated 2,854.2 lbs. of pet food, with 2,166.5 lbs. being the actual halfway point.

I don’t know about you guys, but our results are incredibly motivating to me.

This week we donated 15.3 lbs. of pet food, a green hoodie and pink muzzle for a tiny pup, and $63.00 in cash and one check.
See you Sunday,

Peter