This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

Hi friends!

I wanted to share a fun and meaningful idea that could help build stronger connections between shelters and rescues across the country:

What if we started swapping t-shirts - or even just stickers or decals - with one another?

The concept is simple and flexible:

Your organization sends a shirt or sticker to another shelter or rescue, and they send one back. These items could be:

• Worn or displayed at adoption events to show unity
• Added to a "Wall of Support" or "Wall of Fame" inside your shelter
• Gifted to volunteers or staff as a token of the bigger rescue community

It's a low-cost, high-impact way to promote connection, camaraderie, and support among those of us in animal welfare.

How It Could Work:

1. Sign-Ups:

Organizations fill out a quick form with:

• Name
• Contact info & mailing address
• Preferred swap (shirt, sticker, or both)
• Shirt sizes if participating in the shirt swap

2. Matching:

We can do:

• One-on-one trades (Shelter A swaps with Shelter B), or
• Rotating trades (Shelter A sends to B, B sends to C, C sends to A - like a rescue round robin)

3. Send It Out:

• Each group sends a shirt or decal - feel free to include a little note, photo, or some local flair!
• When it arrives, post a picture on social media, tagging the other organization. Let's get a hashtag going like #ShelterShirtSwap or #RescueWallOfFame.

4. Display the Love:

• Start a Wall of Fame or display rack to show off all the swapped shirts and stickers.
• A great conversation starter for adopters and a powerful visual for staff and volunteers.

Why Join In?

• Shows support for other shelters & rescues
• Fosters friendship and collaboration
• Builds morale
• Promotes cross-community awareness
• Opens doors for future partnership

Whether you want to trade shirts or just swap stickers - you're part of something bigger.

Let's show it. Let's support each other, one shirt (or sticker) at a time!

Would love to hear who's interested and how you think we should get this started - maybe a pilot round first?

comment your shelter or rescue name if interested. 

#CommunityPartnerships*
#FieldServicesandPublicSafety*
#FundraisingandDevelopment
#MarketingandSocialMedia
#OrganizationalManagement
#PeopleManagement(includingVolunteerIntegration)

I love this idea!  We need to build strong, trusting relationships among shelters & rescues. The need is huge and resources limited. Working together we can get a lot more accomplished!  For example, the new rescue we're isn't planning to do TNR (at least initially).  We are starting with orphaned kittens. Together with a TNR focused rescue, we can work together to better address the needs one community at a time!

Count us in!

------------------------------
rosalie hathcock
Founder & President
Family Furst
------------------------------

Hey!

We'd be interested, Grand Prairie Animal Services in Grand Prairie, TX.

------------------------------
Angellee Vincent
Volunteer & Events Coordinator
Grand Prairie Animal Services
Grand Prairie, TX
www.gptx.org/paws
------------------------------

This is a great idea! We just made T-shirts and sold them at our yard sale. It helped bring in funds. Love T-shirts!

------------------------------
Kathy Johnson
Volunteer, Grant and Fundraising Coordinator
Bruno Project Rescue, Inc.
Columbia MD
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-16-2025 06:34 AM
From: Angellee Vincent
Subject: T-Shirt (or Sticker!) Swaps Between Shelters & Rescues: Building Community One Trade at a Time

Hey!

We'd be interested, Grand Prairie Animal Services in Grand Prairie, TX.

------------------------------
Angellee Vincent
Volunteer & Events Coordinator
Grand Prairie Animal Services
Grand Prairie, TX
www.gptx.org/paws
------------------------------

Morning Ms Kathy
Where did you get your shirts made? Was it a local shop or an online vendor?
We would love to do a fundraising T-shirt sale but are struggling to find a site that is affordable.  We don't see many people paying almost $30 for a t-shirt. But our cost is about $25 each using the current site we found (I don't recall the name of it). 

------------------------------
Sarah
Paws in Middle Georgia Animal Rescue
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-19-2025 11:08 AM
From: Kathy Johnson
Subject: T-Shirt (or Sticker!) Swaps Between Shelters & Rescues: Building Community One Trade at a Time

This is a great idea! We just made T-shirts and sold them at our yard sale. It helped bring in funds. Love T-shirts!

------------------------------
Kathy Johnson
Volunteer, Grant and Fundraising Coordinator
Bruno Project Rescue, Inc.
Columbia MD
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 05-16-2025 06:34 AM
From: Angellee Vincent
Subject: T-Shirt (or Sticker!) Swaps Between Shelters & Rescues: Building Community One Trade at a Time

Hey!

We'd be interested, Grand Prairie Animal Services in Grand Prairie, TX.

------------------------------
Angellee Vincent
Volunteer & Events Coordinator
Grand Prairie Animal Services
Grand Prairie, TX
www.gptx.org/paws

We have been able to find local people who only charge $14-$15 per shirt.  I think there are two websites where you can have a store front.  Bonfire and teespring.com. 

------------------------------
Kim Jackson
AKC CGC Evaluator
President/Founder For The Puppies Foundation Inc.
Corinth, MS
kimj@forthepuppiesfoundation.org
www.forthepuppiesfoundation.org
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-20-2025 06:25 AM
From: Sarah Hoadley
Subject: T-Shirt (or Sticker!) Swaps Between Shelters & Rescues: Building Community One Trade at a Time

Morning Ms Kathy
Where did you get your shirts made? Was it a local shop or an online vendor?
We would love to do a fundraising T-shirt sale but are struggling to find a site that is affordable.  We don't see many people paying almost $30 for a t-shirt. But our cost is about $25 each using the current site we found (I don't recall the name of it). 

------------------------------
Sarah
Paws in Middle Georgia Animal Rescue
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 05-19-2025 11:08 AM
From: Kathy Johnson
Subject: T-Shirt (or Sticker!) Swaps Between Shelters & Rescues: Building Community One Trade at a Time

This is a great idea! We just made T-shirts and sold them at our yard sale. It helped bring in funds. Love T-shirts!

------------------------------
Kathy Johnson
Volunteer, Grant and Fundraising Coordinator
Bruno Project Rescue, Inc.
Columbia MD


Original Message:
Sent: 05-16-2025 06:34 AM
From: Angellee Vincent
Subject: T-Shirt (or Sticker!) Swaps Between Shelters & Rescues: Building Community One Trade at a Time

Hey!

We'd be interested, Grand Prairie Animal Services in Grand Prairie, TX.

------------------------------
Angellee Vincent
Volunteer & Events Coordinator
Grand Prairie Animal Services
Grand Prairie, TX
www.gptx.org/paws

Overstock Sale 100 Shirts For 295 Free Shipping | 5Boys Apparel

We have ordered from this site several times, especially when they are doing their overstock sales. Depending on the time of year the turn around time can be several weeks or months depending on product being printed, but for $3 a shirt you can sell cheap and still come out with a profit. They are cheap enough we can just give them to our volunteers so they don't ruin their own clothes if they spill bleach on them or get ripped or when stuff happens.

------------------------------
Mike Wiederhold
Director
CENTRAL ARIZONA ANIMAL RESCUE INC
AZ
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-20-2025 06:25 AM
From: Sarah Hoadley
Subject: T-Shirt (or Sticker!) Swaps Between Shelters & Rescues: Building Community One Trade at a Time

Morning Ms Kathy
Where did you get your shirts made? Was it a local shop or an online vendor?
We would love to do a fundraising T-shirt sale but are struggling to find a site that is affordable.  We don't see many people paying almost $30 for a t-shirt. But our cost is about $25 each using the current site we found (I don't recall the name of it). 

------------------------------
Sarah
Paws in Middle Georgia Animal Rescue
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 05-19-2025 11:08 AM
From: Kathy Johnson
Subject: T-Shirt (or Sticker!) Swaps Between Shelters & Rescues: Building Community One Trade at a Time

This is a great idea! We just made T-shirts and sold them at our yard sale. It helped bring in funds. Love T-shirts!

------------------------------
Kathy Johnson
Volunteer, Grant and Fundraising Coordinator
Bruno Project Rescue, Inc.
Columbia MD


Original Message:
Sent: 05-16-2025 06:34 AM
From: Angellee Vincent
Subject: T-Shirt (or Sticker!) Swaps Between Shelters & Rescues: Building Community One Trade at a Time

Hey!

We'd be interested, Grand Prairie Animal Services in Grand Prairie, TX.

------------------------------
Angellee Vincent
Volunteer & Events Coordinator
Grand Prairie Animal Services
Grand Prairie, TX
www.gptx.org/paws

We would love to be a part of this too!

@Sarah Hoadley We purchase our tickets from Big Frog Printing. They have franchises all over the country. We paid about $17 but had to have a 75 shirt minimum. Being in Florida,wWe chose a softer lighter tshirt than what is normally offered which brought the price up a $1 and our logo is full color which cost more too. Without the extras they would have been $14-15. I also found a local person who will print a few at a time for us for $15 a shirt. 

------------------------------
Lisa Burn
Co-founder/VP
Farmhouse Animal & Nature Sanctuary
Myakka City, FL
https://farmhousesanctuary.org
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-20-2025 06:25 AM
From: Sarah Hoadley
Subject: T-Shirt (or Sticker!) Swaps Between Shelters & Rescues: Building Community One Trade at a Time

Morning Ms Kathy
Where did you get your shirts made? Was it a local shop or an online vendor?
We would love to do a fundraising T-shirt sale but are struggling to find a site that is affordable.  We don't see many people paying almost $30 for a t-shirt. But our cost is about $25 each using the current site we found (I don't recall the name of it). 

------------------------------
Sarah
Paws in Middle Georgia Animal Rescue
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 05-19-2025 11:08 AM
From: Kathy Johnson
Subject: T-Shirt (or Sticker!) Swaps Between Shelters & Rescues: Building Community One Trade at a Time

This is a great idea! We just made T-shirts and sold them at our yard sale. It helped bring in funds. Love T-shirts!

------------------------------
Kathy Johnson
Volunteer, Grant and Fundraising Coordinator
Bruno Project Rescue, Inc.
Columbia MD


Original Message:
Sent: 05-16-2025 06:34 AM
From: Angellee Vincent
Subject: T-Shirt (or Sticker!) Swaps Between Shelters & Rescues: Building Community One Trade at a Time

Hey!

We'd be interested, Grand Prairie Animal Services in Grand Prairie, TX.

------------------------------
Angellee Vincent
Volunteer & Events Coordinator
Grand Prairie Animal Services
Grand Prairie, TX
www.gptx.org/paws

Original Message:
Sent: 5/22/2025 6:01:00 AM
From: Lisa Burns
Subject: RE: T-Shirt (or Sticker!) Swaps Between Shelters & Rescues: Building Community One Trade at a Time

We would love to be a part of this too!

@Sarah Hoadley We purchase our tickets from Big Frog Printing. They have franchises all over the country. We paid about $17 but had to have a 75 shirt minimum. Being in Florida,wWe chose a softer lighter tshirt than what is normally offered which brought the price up a $1 and our logo is full color which cost more too. Without the extras they would have been $14-15. I also found a local person who will print a few at a time for us for $15 a shirt. 

------------------------------
Lisa Burn
Co-founder/VP
Farmhouse Animal & Nature Sanctuary
Myakka City, FL
https://farmhousesanctuary.org
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 05-20-2025 06:25 AM
From: Sarah Hoadley
Subject: T-Shirt (or Sticker!) Swaps Between Shelters & Rescues: Building Community One Trade at a Time

Morning Ms Kathy
Where did you get your shirts made? Was it a local shop or an online vendor?
We would love to do a fundraising T-shirt sale but are struggling to find a site that is affordable.  We don't see many people paying almost $30 for a t-shirt. But our cost is about $25 each using the current site we found (I don't recall the name of it). 

------------------------------
Sarah
Paws in Middle Georgia Animal Rescue
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 05-19-2025 11:08 AM
From: Kathy Johnson
Subject: T-Shirt (or Sticker!) Swaps Between Shelters & Rescues: Building Community One Trade at a Time

This is a great idea! We just made T-shirts and sold them at our yard sale. It helped bring in funds. Love T-shirts!

------------------------------
Kathy Johnson
Volunteer, Grant and Fundraising Coordinator
Bruno Project Rescue, Inc.
Columbia MD

We would love to partipate as well. We have local printing compant that we can use for any amunt of T-shirts, which is great for trying out new designs!

------------------------------
Cheryl Jones
Florence Lauderdale Animal Shelter
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-22-2025 03:00 AM
From: Lisa Burns
Subject: T-Shirt (or Sticker!) Swaps Between Shelters & Rescues: Building Community One Trade at a Time

We would love to be a part of this too!

@Sarah Hoadley We purchase our tickets from Big Frog Printing. They have franchises all over the country. We paid about $17 but had to have a 75 shirt minimum. Being in Florida,wWe chose a softer lighter tshirt than what is normally offered which brought the price up a $1 and our logo is full color which cost more too. Without the extras they would have been $14-15. I also found a local person who will print a few at a time for us for $15 a shirt. 

------------------------------
Lisa Burn
Co-founder/VP
Farmhouse Animal & Nature Sanctuary
Myakka City, FL
https://farmhousesanctuary.org
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 05-20-2025 06:25 AM
From: Sarah Hoadley
Subject: T-Shirt (or Sticker!) Swaps Between Shelters & Rescues: Building Community One Trade at a Time

Morning Ms Kathy
Where did you get your shirts made? Was it a local shop or an online vendor?
We would love to do a fundraising T-shirt sale but are struggling to find a site that is affordable.  We don't see many people paying almost $30 for a t-shirt. But our cost is about $25 each using the current site we found (I don't recall the name of it). 

------------------------------
Sarah
Paws in Middle Georgia Animal Rescue


Original Message:
Sent: 05-19-2025 11:08 AM
From: Kathy Johnson
Subject: T-Shirt (or Sticker!) Swaps Between Shelters & Rescues: Building Community One Trade at a Time

This is a great idea! We just made T-shirts and sold them at our yard sale. It helped bring in funds. Love T-shirts!

------------------------------
Kathy Johnson
Volunteer, Grant and Fundraising Coordinator
Bruno Project Rescue, Inc.
Columbia MD


Original Message:
Sent: 05-16-2025 06:34 AM
From: Angellee Vincent
Subject: T-Shirt (or Sticker!) Swaps Between Shelters & Rescues: Building Community One Trade at a Time

Hey!

We'd be interested, Grand Prairie Animal Services in Grand Prairie, TX.

------------------------------
Angellee Vincent
Volunteer & Events Coordinator
Grand Prairie Animal Services
Grand Prairie, TX
www.gptx.org/paws

Just throwing it out there; if anyone wants to trade one on one with GPAS; just shoot me a direct message with the mailing address and I can start putting together packages Saturday when I'm in office :) 

I know I have some swag logo items but I may have some tshirts too ! Not sure on sizes so if you want a tshirt just give me your top 2-3 size choices! I may have a few 4x too but honestly truly not sure until I'm able to check. 

thanks :) 

<3

------------------------------
Angellee Vincent
Volunteer & Events Coordinator
Grand Prairie Animal Services
Grand Prairie, TX
www.gptx.org/paws
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-22-2025 03:00 AM
From: Lisa Burns
Subject: T-Shirt (or Sticker!) Swaps Between Shelters & Rescues: Building Community One Trade at a Time

We would love to be a part of this too!

@Sarah Hoadley We purchase our tickets from Big Frog Printing. They have franchises all over the country. We paid about $17 but had to have a 75 shirt minimum. Being in Florida,wWe chose a softer lighter tshirt than what is normally offered which brought the price up a $1 and our logo is full color which cost more too. Without the extras they would have been $14-15. I also found a local person who will print a few at a time for us for $15 a shirt. 

------------------------------
Lisa Burn
Co-founder/VP
Farmhouse Animal & Nature Sanctuary
Myakka City, FL
https://farmhousesanctuary.org
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 05-20-2025 06:25 AM
From: Sarah Hoadley
Subject: T-Shirt (or Sticker!) Swaps Between Shelters & Rescues: Building Community One Trade at a Time

Morning Ms Kathy
Where did you get your shirts made? Was it a local shop or an online vendor?
We would love to do a fundraising T-shirt sale but are struggling to find a site that is affordable.  We don't see many people paying almost $30 for a t-shirt. But our cost is about $25 each using the current site we found (I don't recall the name of it). 

------------------------------
Sarah
Paws in Middle Georgia Animal Rescue


Original Message:
Sent: 05-19-2025 11:08 AM
From: Kathy Johnson
Subject: T-Shirt (or Sticker!) Swaps Between Shelters & Rescues: Building Community One Trade at a Time

This is a great idea! We just made T-shirts and sold them at our yard sale. It helped bring in funds. Love T-shirts!

------------------------------
Kathy Johnson
Volunteer, Grant and Fundraising Coordinator
Bruno Project Rescue, Inc.
Columbia MD


Original Message:
Sent: 05-16-2025 06:34 AM
From: Angellee Vincent
Subject: T-Shirt (or Sticker!) Swaps Between Shelters & Rescues: Building Community One Trade at a Time

Hey!

We'd be interested, Grand Prairie Animal Services in Grand Prairie, TX.

------------------------------
Angellee Vincent
Volunteer & Events Coordinator
Grand Prairie Animal Services
Grand Prairie, TX
www.gptx.org/paws

I think this is such a cool idea, I'm not in charge of anything like that at our shelter but if it turns into something I would totally pass it along!

------------------------------
Laurel Nelson
Cat Welfare Supervisor
Nebraska Humane Society
NE
------------------------------

I am obsessed with this idea! Swag and merch is so huge for us - people love it! We're happy to join!

------------------------------
Meredith Evens
Founder
Olyver & Co
WI
------------------------------

I think this is a great idea! I'd be interested. 

All About the Animals Foundation

Allabouttheanimalsfoundation@gmail.com

------------------------------
Maria Putnam
Founder/CEO
All About the Animals Foundation
CT
------------------------------

This sounds so fun! I would love to participate with our organization: Mountain Humane, Hailey ID [lkrieger@mountainhumnane.org]

------------------------------
Leslie Krieger
Behavior & Training Manager
Mountain Humane
Hailey ID
------------------------------

We're in!  Would love to connect like this.

Citizens for Animal Protection - private nonprofit shelter & clinic - Houston, TX

------------------------------
Sandi Mercado
Shelter or rescue director
Citizens for Animal Protection
Houston TX
------------------------------

Would love to participate!

Henrico Police Animal Shelter/Glen Allen, VA 

------------------------------
Pamela Bridgmon
Shelter Manager
Henrico Police Animal Shelter
VA
------------------------------

What a great idea! The Animal Welfare League of Charlotte County would like to participate, too! Awlshelter.org

------------------------------
Stephenie Krum
Volunteer Coordinator
Animal Welfare League of Charlotte County
FL
------------------------------

I absolutely love this idea and am certainly interested!

------------------------------
Michelle Grimes
Animal Control Officer
Keene Police Department
Keene NH
------------------------------

I love this! For The Puppies Foundation Inc.  Corinth, MS would love to participate.  We have shirts in 4 colors. Black, light blue, grey/gray, and white.

kimj@forthepuppiesfoundation.org  

------------------------------
[Kim] [Jackson]
[AKC CGC Evaluator]
[For The Puppies Foundation Inc.]
------------------------------

This sounds like fun! I would love to participate. 

------------------------------
robyn neal
VCAS Office assistant lll
VCAS
CA
------------------------------

We would be interested! Pet Animal Welfare Society of CT (PAWS), Norwalk CT

------------------------------
Kerry Dobson
Executive Director
Pet Animal Welfare Society
CT
------------------------------

Count us in!

------------------------------
Lina Eklof
Director of Operations
San Antonio Humane Society
TX
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-21-2025 07:27 AM
From: Kerry Dobson
Subject: T-Shirt (or Sticker!) Swaps Between Shelters & Rescues: Building Community One Trade at a Time

We would be interested! Pet Animal Welfare Society of CT (PAWS), Norwalk CT

------------------------------
Kerry Dobson
Executive Director
Pet Animal Welfare Society
CT
------------------------------

Love this idea! We're in!

------------------------------
Sara Post
Operations Director
Feline Rescue
Saint Paul, MN
------------------------------

Sounds like fun.  Feline Fund could do shirts or stickers.   What a fun way to showcase the the great work being done across our network.   

------------------------------
Tara Tomcsik
President
Feline Fund
MI
------------------------------

We'd like to participate from Winnipeg Animal Services in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

------------------------------
Zoe Austin
Animal Services Officer
City of Winnipeg
MB
------------------------------

We'd love to know some places to shop for shirts, and/or design them, so we could join in! 
Catherine

www.aapaw.org

------------------------------
Catherine Morrison
President
Alamo Area Partners for Animal Welfare (AAPAW)
TX
------------------------------

I love this idea and would love to be a part of it!

------------------------------
Olivia Wilhelm
Founder/Director
Friends of Felix Senior Dog Rescue and Sanctuary
New York
www.friendsoffelix.org
------------------------------

Love this idea so much! Let me know where and when I can send :) Buffalo, NY Ten Lives Club Cat Adoption Group & Shelter

------------------------------
Sallie Edwards
Board Member
Ten Lives Club
NY
------------------------------

I love this idea. We also want to join.  

Tonya Hampton-Lopez

Volunteer & Events Coordinator/Foster Mgr.

21001 E. 78 HWY Indepencence, MO. 64057

816.206.3656- C

816.325.7207-O

------------------------------
tonya hampton
------------------------------

Great idea, count us in for a sticker swap(s). 

------------------------------
Shana McCawley
Vice President
Freed Spirits Animal Rescue
AZ
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-29-2025 08:29 AM
From: tonya hampton
Subject: T-Shirt (or Sticker!) Swaps Between Shelters & Rescues: Building Community One Trade at a Time

I love this idea. We also want to join.  

Tonya Hampton-Lopez

Volunteer & Events Coordinator/Foster Mgr.

21001 E. 78 HWY Indepencence, MO. 64057

816.206.3656- C

816.325.7207-O

------------------------------
tonya hampton
------------------------------

Absolutely! We would love to be a part of this!! We would like to be apart of the sticker swap.

Cheyenne, WY

------------------------------
Amira Zohbe
Volunteer/ Foster Manager
Black Dog Animal Rescue
------------------------------

I love this idea and I can't wait to see what shirts, stickers and other items we can display proudly as partners in animal lovers and rescuers!!

------------------------------
Christine Scheuermann
Mental Health Technician
Mississippi Coalition of Animal Protection
MS
------------------------------

We're in! Save Our Cats and Kittens (SOCKS) in Fort Walton Beach, FL. Looking forward to how we can make this happen.

------------------------------
Kim White
Shelter Manager
Save Our Cats and KIttens, Inc.
FL
------------------------------

Love all the responses, but did I miss a post stating where / how this would happen?  I'm ready to swap but not sure what next steps are.  Thanks!!

------------------------------
Sandi Mercado
Shelter or rescue director
Citizens for Animal Protection
Houston TX
------------------------------

I love this idea.  I am just a volunteer at my shelter, but I'd love to buy a couple of our rescue's shirts and trade with you all.  Double win, fundraising for my local rescue, and involvement with other orgs :) 

------------------------------
Melissa Fitzgerald
Volunteer
Pawfect Life Rescue
MA
------------------------------