A message to Charlotte's sponsors from her caregiver

Dear Project Maddie and Sponsors of Charlotte,

Thank you for this opportunity to tell you how much your generosity and kindness has helped us. I was so thankful to find Project Maddie’s website. I was even more grateful to get such a quick response to my request for help. As you know, my Charlotte honey is a two-and-a-half year old brown and white tabby. She’s a sweet, energetic and affectionate girl, which amazes me considering what she has been through in her young life. Surrendered to Toronto Animal Services when she was pregnant, all of her babies were adopted, and she was left behind. I saw her photo on the TAS website and was immediately captivated. She sat in her cage looking with a steady gaze into the camera as if to say, “I am here waiting for you.” I think we rescued each other, as she came into my life shortly after my beloved cat Juliet died in 2011, and her sister, Roma, died in 2010. I told myself, “no more cats” but seeing Charlotte immediately changed my mind.

I tell you all this because your kind hearts indicate to me that you know of the special bond between a pet and caregiver. To most people, she is a cat, just an animal, but to you, I know she is much more, and that is why you so lovingly reached out to help us. For me, Charlotte, (and previously Roma and Juliet), has given me such love, joy and happiness, all so unexpected. She is a loving, faithful and wonderful companion and is my reason for getting out of the bed in the morning. Life is difficult right now, as I job hunt, and knowing that her needs are being met through your compassion and thoughtfulness is such a blessing and relief.

So never doubt that your help makes a difference because it does so very much. By helping Charlotte you are definitely carrying out Project Maddie’s mandate to “keep pets and people together.”

Thank you with all my heart for your generous spirit and for helping to keep us together. Charlotte and Charlotte’s “Mom”

Charlotte needs a helping hand

Charlotte's caregiver has contacted Project Maddie because she is in need of assistance to keep Charlotte safe, happy and healthy. She writes: Just a little about her - she is two-and-a-half years old, a brown and white tabby. I adopted her from Toronto Animal Services last fall after my other beloved cat Juliet died. Charlotte was surrendered to TAS because she was pregnant. She had her babies, all of whom were adopted, but she was left behind. I saw her photo on the TAS website and was instantly captivated. She is energetic and affectionate, and I am so blessed to have her in my life.

In Charlotte's short life she's been abandoned, she's been a mother, cared for her kittens and waited for a second chance. She found that in her loving caregiver. Unfortunately they have been impacted by the economy and need a helping hand for a little while. If you can help please contact us about sponsoring Charlotte.

Success Story - Cindy

I was out running some late night errands this evening when I noticed a woman with a small blond Cocker Spaniel sorting through the garbage bags at this donation drop-off box in the rain. Fortunately I had some small bags of pet food in the trunk of my car (not having storage space can have its advantages!). After talking to the woman I learned that she is on disability and her lovely dog's name is Cindy. Miss Cindy loves chicken and we were able to accommodate her taste buds and tummy with a few small bags of chicken dog food. After I explained Project Maddie and what we do, Cindy's mom said "Well isn't this a gift from God" and even took a small bag of cat food for her neighbour! I gave Cindy's Mom Project Maddie's contact information and I know we'll be seeing sweet Cindy and her Mom again. Thank you to those who made this unexpected but very moving and rewarding experience possible. Never underestimate the impact a small act of kindness can have on others.

Volunteer Appreciation Week: Thank you!

We love our volunteers! It's National Volunteer Week in Canada. An estimated 12.5 million Canadians volunteer their time to bring positive changes to their communities. Special thanks to everyone who has contributed time and energy to help us keep people and pets together. We couldn't do what we do without you. Special thanks to Elysa P., Patti M., Matthew M., Le-Ann P., Kasey B., Vera K., Clare P., Pet Valu (North Service Road, Oakville) Marilyn at For the Love of Animals (Toronto), Judy at The Ark Spaw and Pet Emporium (Oakville), and Sommer at Flirt Custom Lash Studios. If you'd like to volunteer for Project Maddie as a driver, board member, outreach ambassador, social media liaison, special events ambassador, one of Maddie's Angels (assisting seniors in need of assistance with dog walking) or any other volunteer position please drop us a line! projectmaddie at gmail dot com. We'd love to hear from you!

Spring 2012

Project Maddie turns 2 years old this month! What started as a simple request to help a low-income family on the verge of having to give up their Golden Retriever Maddie has turned in to a legacy that continues to help pet owners in need all across the Greater Toronto Area.

While a handful of our projects garner media attention, most of our work is done quietly behind the scenes. Networking with pet supply stores to have food donated, purchasing what cannot be donated, speaking with pet owners who often need a friendly and compassionate person to listen to their stories almost as much as they need help for their pets, and of course picking up and delivering food.

Some of the people we help are seniors, some are people with disabilities on a very fixed income, and some have recently lost their jobs due to the economic down turn. Some have dogs, many have cats, and they all have 2 things in common:

1. They love their pets and desperately need the love and companionship their pets give them.

2. They can't believe that a perfect stranger cared enough to extend a helping hand when they were at their lowest point and on the verge of giving up.

In the spirit of Project Maddie's (second!) birthday we have put together a wish list of items that are urgently needed for us to continue our work through the summer.


* Cat litter - almost never donated, a gift of $15 dollars will provide a large box of cat litter for a family

* Transportation - one of our largest expenses, a gift of $15 will allow us to pick up, transport and deliver food to a family almost anywhere in the GTA

* Food - we're often fortunate enough to have some sort of stockpile but right now we do not have any food. A gift of $25 will purchase a good sized bag of quality cat food. A gift of $50 will purchase a good sized bag of quality dog food.

* Post Office Box - a gift of $20 per month will provide us with a post office box which is important to keep Project Maddie operating

* Helpline - a gift of $75 per month will keep our help line going. Our help line is available 14 hours a day, seven days a week including holidays.

* Sponsorship (one month) - a gift of $35 will sponsor a family for a month. It will provide food, transportation, parking, and avoid having to put families on a waiting list.

* Sponsorship (one year) - a gift of $420 will sponsor a family for an entire year! Some of our clients only require assistance temporarily however seniors and people living with disabilities require long-term support.


On behalf of Project Maddie and the families thank you for making this two year anniversary possible. We wouldn't be able to do it without you.

October update

I'd like to thank our supporters for their kind messages of encouragement.  Having to start a waiting list was very discouraging and sometimes I wonder if there's enough interest to keep Project Maddie going.  The kind messages you've sent have given me hope.  I know what Project Maddie is doing is worthwhile and it means the world to me that you think so too.

Project Maddie doesn't receive any corporate sponsorship or government funding. Our only funds come directly from caring members of the community and go directly back in to the community.

I'd especially like to thank The Ark Spaw and Pet Emporium in Oakville for making a generous donation of premium dog and cat food.  This food will see us through for some time, as long as we continue to get monetary donations to cover necessary operating expenses and transportation costs to get this much needed food to the families who are counting on our assistance.

We are still reviewing candidates for our Board of Directors.  We need a Board of Directors in place to move forward with our Canada Revenue Agency application for Charitable Status.  Project Maddie also needs volunteers!  We need help with outreach, marketing, fundraising, and much more!

I've said it before but it's worth repeating:  It takes a village.  The more people we have involved the better Project Maddie will be - I'm starting to believe it can surpass my wildest expectations.  My dream is to take Project Maddie Ontario-wide so that we can keep people and pets together not just in the GTA, but from Thunder Bay to Ottawa to Windsor and anywhere in between.  It will take donations, creativity, and volunteer hours but I promise it will be more worthwhile and satisfying than you can imagine. Together we can keep more people and pets together.  Will you join us in making that dream a reality?

Success Story

Earlier this year we held a Facebook contest asking you, our friends and supporters, what you want to see on our blog. The winning idea was stories about people Project Maddie has assisted. Details that can identify the pet owner have been omitted to protect her privacy:

Good morning,

I found your charity on the Internet, obviously. I don't know if you are still going, after all the help you gave to the people in the apartment fire in Toronto. That was amazing the way you jumped in to help!! I'm sure the pet owners there were so very grateful!!

I have lost my job, again. I just got it and I guess the owner changed his mind and decided he didn't need help. He wouldn't give me a reason, even though I asked 4 times. Anyway, I have 4 cats, two of them were my mum's which I kept when she passed away. I couldn't see them go anywhere else but with me. I am in need of food for them and litter as well. I have been giving up a lot of my food to buy food for them, but it is taking a toll on my health, I'm diabetic. I still do it anyway. I don't know if you can help me out, but I would sure appreciate anything you may be able to do. I have tried the Humane Society, but they say they can never guarantee they will have anything, or what they will have on any given day. I even asked if I could call on a day I was thinking of coming down, they said no, since the staff do not have time to check things like that. I couldn't believe it. I just can't afford to spend the transit money to get down there and find they have nothing. I may as well set a match to $5.

Thank you for your time. Sorry to bend your ear so far. Have a great long weekend and thank you so much for what you have done, and continue, I hope, to do for our furry loved ones!! You make a huge difference in so many lives, you enable people to keep their pets, instead of having to give them up. They do make a huge difference in our lives in more ways than many humans do!!

Cheers
(name of client)
North York


show details May 25

Hi Kim,

Sorry to be so late getting back to you. Thank you sooooo much for all the wonderful food you gave me for my kitties!! I was just blown away by your generosity! I've opened some of the crunchies hoping they will like them. I put 4 different ones out in different bowls. So we'll see what happens. Basically I told them, and they listened of course....not.... that they will have to eat it even if they don't like it, or starve....;-) And thank you too for the large bag of the Purina hairball control, and the case of the Friskies.

I really enjoyed meeting (name of volunteer). I chewed her ear off, poor thing. But being at home and on the computer all day looking for work, I don't get to talk to many people, so when someone comes by, I yap. I hope I didn't drive her too nuts!

Thank you so much again Kim. God willing, if I am lucky enough to find a job before I loose my apartment, I will make a donation to help you guys out. And I'm going to mention your organization to my friends as well. They may be willing to help out as well. Where can they send donations?

Have a wonderful rest of the week. My kitties and I are very thankful for you, your volunteers and your huge hearts!!

Cheers
(name of client)


This client's cats are not only beloved companions, two of them are living, breathing connections to her mother. Thanks to Project Maddie's supporters she didn't have to part with her precious kitties, although she is on our waiting list because she still needs assistance.

Sometimes it's the people who help us at our lowest points that we never forget, and those kindnesses we carry in our hearts, even if we don't know the names of the people who made it possible. In many ways your support changed a life.