Sanctuary Angels Club (inspiration from abroad)
Now and again at England, Naturally, we like to profile a wonderful idea abroad, that does not appear to be happening here. To inspire perhaps someone else to do the same or something similar?
Sanctuary Angels Club (USA) is a great and original idea. It was created by people who run an animal sanctuary in Florida and gives home to many animals including ones who have been neglected or are elderly and need special diets and medicine. It also offers custom pet portraits by a resident artist, along with on-site retreats, yoga classes and cooking classes.
So to help fund food and medicine and shelter for the animals, it asks local people to join the club! There are several membership tiers, obviously the more you pay each month, the more you get. But the base ones are very affordable, and still have benefits, as well as helping the animals.
Depending on the tier funded, members receive a combination of cooking classes, painting or yoga classes, holistic courses and even retreat stays. These also make wonderful gifts for others.
This is a great idea, as people often don’t respond to just ‘give us money’. This way, members (or gift recipients) get to visit and not just help the animals, but help themselves with relaxation, food and yoga – and the animals receive full bowls of food, hay in the barn and medical care. And of course can have custom portraits of their own companion animals too!
This is a wonderful example of how creative thinking can do good, and there are so many sanctuaries and businesses in England, that could likely benefit from more donations and income, from setting up some kind of similar scheme, using the skills from present volunteers.
You could chop and change this. Depending on the skills and talents of your own staff and volunteers. Anything from therapeutic massage to music lessons, the only limit is your imagination!
