Please Help - Be A TOY Sponsor

[gbird]

We are starting a new sponsorship program at TGF. We are in desperate need of Cockatoo & Macaw toys. They go thru the big wooden toys so fast we can't keep up. We are also in need of toys for the birds in quarantine at the foundation. Many birds that are turned over to us come to us with no financial support from the owner, so it's up to us to make sure the birds get what they need. With so many birds at the foundation, sometimes it is hard to supply the toys needed for all the birds.

I go once or twice a week and spend the day putting toys in cages. Often times there just aren't enough toys, and some of the birds have to go without, or with few toys, until we can get the volunteers in to make new toys.

SO...we thought it would be fun and helpful if we started a Toy Sponsorship program. It doesn't require you to fill anything out. You can send toys as often as you are able. You will get a reciept for your taxes. Plus the extra bonus of me getting pics & videos of your toys in the cages, and if the birds are inside, playing with thier new toys.

How it will work is. You can be a Too Toy Sponsor or a Macaw Toy Sponsor or just a general toy sponsor, sending toys for large, medium & small birds. That way you will know the toys you send are going to specific type of birds. All toys will be sent to me, and I will fill out all the tax paperwork and turn that in when I bring the toys to TGF.

This is a good way for the people who may not be able to sponsor a bird on a a monthly basis, and still be of great help to us, and know that you are helping many many baby's enjoy thier stay at TGF.

To give you an idea, here a few pictures of some of the cages. Notice how sparse they are of toys. I will take more pics, but I know you all know what a happy birdy cage should look like.









I know there are many of you who are sponsoring birds and send me packages regularly of toys & treats for your sponsor birds and the others. For that we are so very grateful.

So have a look around your birds toy boxes, or next time you go to buy new toys, maybe pick up a few extra. I can't tell you what a difference it makes to these birds to have the mental stimulation, and fun needed for them to be as happy as we can make them. Some have had a ruff life, and they deserve to be happy.

Thanx for taking the time to read this, and helping. If anyone has any questions, please contact me either thru PM

[garenburkus]

I am getting a new job this weekend so expect toys/money from me soon!
Just gotta finish paying for miley and the cell phone bills
life sucks without a job for a month :@
We make boings here. So ill send 2 or 3 of those monthly most likely!
Can we mail in money so you or whoever can go buy some great toys
because theres not a lot of good parrot toy stores around here :(
but when we go to restock for miley we will definatly pick some up!

[gbird]

That would be great. Thank you so much. Please do whatever you can do, when ever you can do it. No pressure.

I would be more comfortable if you didn't send me money. It's easier for me, and safer I think in long run. That way you can do what you can, and pick the toys you want, for the birds you want. Plus there is the exchange rate, I am in the US. PM me for my address. And thanx so much.

[Kevin]

Hey hit me up and we can help each other... have a couple ideas!

[Chief's Mom]

What about home-made toys? With two big wood munchers, I don't really buy too many toys commercially, except at bird shows. I wouldn't send anything that I wouldn't give to my own birds, as far as safety is concerned.

[gbird]

Home made are certainly acceptable. I love home made toys, and so do the birds. As long as they can destroy it, it's a perfect parrot toy.

That would be fantastic.....thank you. PM me for my address.




This gives me an idea. If anyone does make thier own toys, and has extra pieces they don't think they will use, or wants to pick up some extra pieces, that would be great as well. We have volunteers that come in and make toys. So we can always use wood blocks, balls, rope...etc etc. Thanx again

[Chief's Mom]

gbird, I've already made two 'big' bird toys...I'm just waiting for the ss eye screws to come in. Also, I have a girl scout troop consisting of eleven 7-9 year olds coming to my house this weekend to learn about the responsibility of owning birds (and pets in general) and to say a little about why they're endangered, etc. They were going to do an activity of making a little bird feeder for wild birds, but after I saw this, I thought it might be a good idea to tell them a little about foundations like TGF, and let them make some toys to donate. It would probably be more on the side of 'little' bird toys, but I think it would be a good activity for their age level. And then I could email them the pictures you send so that they can see who they're helping out. If you don't mind, I'm going to search for some pictures that you've posted on here to make a little slide show. If you have any good, clear pictures (ones that really show the birds) that you know of off hand, I'd really appreciate it if you could email/post them. (Of course, I could show them pictures of Pita, but then they would ask why he needed more toys!) I'm more excited about this that I thought! Of course I love to show off my babies, but I also love the chance to tell people the whole truth of owning birds. If more people had the oppurtunity to be educated, places like TGF would be needed a whole lot less!

[gbird]

Thats fantastic. Thank you.

I sent you a PM with some pics.

Tell your girls how awesome they are

[gbird]

*BUMP*

Please be a toy sponsor. We are in desperate need of large toys. Even if you have some toys parts laying around not being used, we can use them to make toys.

Thanx, any questions, please contact me.