A no-kill shelter and adoption center for cats

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Volunteers

HART is growing, and with the new building, we need many more volunteers.  Extra hands are always welcome at the shelter to help keep it clean and comfy for the cats.

If you're interested in volunteering your time to HART and/or would like to discuss volunteer opportunities, please e-mail or call us at 829-4116. 

To obtain a volunteer application, select one of these available formats:
     Volunteer Application - pdf   (for viewing and printing)
     Volunteer Application - Microsoft Word  (for updating and emailing)

Please review our volunteer Code of Conduct. 

Some of the various tasks that volunteers here at HART handle include:

• Clean cat rooms, lobby areas, kitchen, supply room
  
• Scoop litter boxes
  
• Transport cats to and from vet appointments
  
• Fundraising activities – new ideas welcomed!
  
• Publicity/press releases & marketing to local papers, etc.
  
• Tabling with kittens – display kittens and introduce HART to the public
  
• Baking for sales
  
• Working Open House (cleaning and/or tours)
  
• Conducting tours and assisting with adoptions
  
• Grant writing
  
• Playing back phone messages and giving to appropriate people
  
• Typing and sending out thank you letters
  
• Maintaining mailing list for fundraisers
  
• Administering medications to cats
  
• Data entry to keep cat records up-to-date in shelter manager software
  
• Fostering kittens and moms
  
• Working with foster homes to keep them supplied with food and litter
  
• Collecting cans and bottles, toner cartridges
  
• Pickup and deliver food and various supplies to shelter
  
• Office functions:  filing, ordering office and cleaning supplies
  
• Testing cats and giving vaccinations
  
• Grooming cats (brushing and clipping nails, cleaning brushes/utensils)
  
• Laundry (washing, drying, folding)
  
• Dishes (washing and drying)
  
• Newsletter committee
  
• Maintaining health records on cats (weighing, etc.)
  
• Cat inventory books (take pictures of new cats, write-ups, keep books current)
  
• Carpentry work (minor) and miscellaneous upkeep at shelter
  
• Helping with installation, cleaning, and removal of air conditioners/purifiers

We are also looking for people to fill special positions. If you have the skills to perform the following roles and want to volunteer, please call or e-mail the contact person listed.

Publicity/community outreach - Broaden awareness of HART's work in Greater Portland through communication with schools, animal welfare groups, community agencies, and the media. Strong writing and communication skills needed. Contact Joann Wallace, 772-6211, jwsummit@msn.com.

Transporters for spay/neuter appointments: We need volunteers to take our kitties to the vet for their spay/neuter appointments. We go to Gray/New Gloucester Animal Hospital in New Gloucester (20 minutes from shelter) and to Dr. Beury in N. Bridgton (1 hour from shelter). If interested, please contact Joann Wallace.

Shelter cleaners: We are always in need of help to keep our shelter clean and to put ample food and water down for the kitties. The cleaning teams work mornings, 7 days a week. If interested, please contact Sharon Lewis or Laura Edgar (829-4116).

Foster families for kittens: We are looking for families to help socialize our kittens. Kitten season has grown from spring through fall to all year long. This is a fun and rewarding experience for the entire family. If interested, please contact Suellen Clark.

Fundraising events: We are continually staging events to raise funds to maintain our "friendships" with all our wonderful vets. If you're interested in learning more about these events and/or want to get involved, please contact Sharon Lewis.

Supplies

We are always accepting donations, and these are a few of the items we are in need of:

For the cats -

• Science Diet dry food - adult cat and kitten
• Fancy Feast food - for cats who need highly palatable moist food
• Cat's Pride non-clumping clay litter - best for the shelter environment
• Stainless steel food and water dishes
• Stainless steel restaurant insert pans, 4 to 6 inches deep - to be used as litterboxes; these can be found at restaurant equipment suppliers
• Cat condos and beds
• Cat toys

For care of the cats -

• Laundry detergent - specifically for high efficiency washing machines
• Dish soap and dishwasher detergent
• Paper towels
• Large garbage bags and kitchen trash bags
• First aid supplies for humans, such as band aids and neosporin

For the office -

• Plain white and colored paper for printer and copier
• HP21 printer cartridges
• Postage stamps

For fundraising -

• Cat-related crafts - toys, beds, jewelry - for HART to sell at events and fairs

Please call us at 829-4116 or e-mail us at info@hartofme.com if you would like to contribute any of these items. Donations can be dropped off at the shelter, but please call first. Items may also be shipped via UPS. THANK YOU!