Paws for a Cause: Volunteerism & Summer Reading
Indianapolis Public Library
Innovation Synopsis
The Paws for a Cause program encouraged families to connect with the Summer Reading Program theme of Pets while engaging in a meaningful act of family volunteerism. Participants were able to learn about shelter animals and a local animal welfare organization’s mission while working on crafts, including tug toys and tie blankets, that would be used for animal enrichment for local shelter animals. The program partnered with IndyHumane, a community-based organization with over 100 years of providing animal welfare support in the community, to receive the crafts developed by program participants.
Challenge/Opportunity
Kids want to make a difference in the world, big or small, but there are limited opportunities for families to work together on volunteer projects. This program provided a fun, social activity that families could collaborate together to make tug toys and tie blankets for shelter animals while strengthening value systems for children and adults through having a positive impact on their local community. The program also offered opportunities for attendees to connect with reading materials to help them achieve their summer reading goals, as well as learn more about pets and having a positive impact on their community.
Key Elements of Innovation
Paws for a Cause is an intergenerational program designed to engage families participating in the Summer Reading Program through a craft-based volunteer opportunity with a local partner. The partner organization, IndyHumane, was selected to closely align the service project with the Summer Reading theme of Pets.
The program encouraged caregivers to deepen their involvement in their child’s Summer Reading experience. Crafts were intentionally designed to be accessible to all age groups, allowing younger children to collaborate with their caregivers and older youth to work independently alongside them.
Information about IndyHumane’s history of community work helped reinforce the lasting impact of service. This structure supported meaningful intergenerational interaction and emphasized the values of literacy and volunteerism in a shared, hands-on environment.
Achieved Outcomes
This program was offered 26 times and impacted 464 attendees who made over 400 items to be donated to a local shelter, IndyHumane. This program was designed to offer intergenerational connection, and this goal was achieved: 57% of attendees were school age or younger, 6% were teens, and 37% were adults or seniors. One participant shared, “Great opportunity for kids to give back & serve the community! Would love more opportunities like this!” and another shared, “Trying to get our girls more involved in service projects. This is a great start.” A program survey revealed 100% of surveyed participants reported they enjoyed the program and 97% felt they would be able to use the knowledge gained during the program. The strong connection to the Summer Reading program, including highlighting related reading materials, resulted in 86% of surveyed participants reporting they were more aware of Library resources after the program.
