Are you looking for an opportunity to give back to your community? Volunteering with Spay and Stay can be a rewarding experience. There are many ways you can help support our mission of trap, neuter, return. See below for the many volunteer opportunities available!
Help caretakers to set traps, check traps and/or hold cats prior to surgery day (occasional)
Some caretakers do not have a place to recover a cat in a trap after their vetting appointment. Males need 24 hours and females need 2 - 3 days in a trap before being released. If you have a garage or patio where you can feed a cat and care for them while they recover in a trap, that would be helpful. Training would be included.
Some caretakers do not have a place to recover a cat in a trap after their vetting appointment. Males need 24 hours and females need 2 - 3 days in a trap before being released. If you have a garage or patio where you can feed a cat and care for them while they recover in a trap, that would be helpful. This may include tranporting the cat back to be released to their colony. Training would be included.
Some caretakers are unable to trap cats in their colonies due to mobility limitations. We could use assistants to work with caretakers in their area to trap, transport and recover feral cats before releasing them back to their colonies. Training would be provided.
Store and lend traps to caretakers. Teach caretakers trapping skills and tips. We especially need trap depos in South West Lake County IL (i.e. Lake Zurich area) but could use help all over Lake County!
Assist with winter shelter building (usually in the fall). See our events page for dates.
Design flyers of adoptable cats for adoption events and posting on adoption websites (year round) or help with newsletter layout and text. All marketing ideas are welcome.
Consider hosting a bake sale, organize a raffle or other fundraiser. Do you have an idea and the availability to run a fundraising event? If so, contact us to discuss how you might help.
We run adoption events most weekends. We could use helpers to greet guests and encourage people to visit available cats/kittens. Our adoption events are held in Waukegan, Libertyville and Grayslake. We also have at least one large fundraiser per year where we could use assistance setting up, managing games/tables, and taking down when it's over.
Wash and sanitize adoption events linen (weekly); Wash and sanitize adoption event cages (monthly)
Spay and Stay's annual Holiday Market/Fundraiser needs crafters, vendors, publicity and setup/teardown. If you are a crafter or know someone who is we’d like to hear from you. This is our most important event of the year and we need as many helpers as possible! Planning starts every September and the event is usually scheduled early November.
Cat food donations are always welcomed by our caretakers. It eases their financial burden if they are feeding many cats. We can't emphasize this support enough! It takes a village. Contact our office to learn how and where you can donate wet and dry food.
Ask a local business to place an attractive Spay and Stay donation can or jar on their counter. You will be responsible to monitor the container and submit the donations back to our office.
Educate others about the benefits of trap, neuter, return through community events at libraries, park districts, farmer’s markets, etc. All materials are provided to you.
Help secure funding for our lifesaving work with community cats! This role involves researching grants, writing proposals and submitting applications. If you have experience in grant writing, we could really use your skills!
