We collected new toys for pets to play with, and donated the toys to SPCA of Texas. SPCA is an animal welfare organization that works to rescue, treat, and find homes for animals.

H.E.A.T. members came together to make bracelets that would be later sold at lunches to raise money for Becky’s Hope Horse Rescue (BHHR). Members watched as team leaders gave instruction on how to thread each different bracelet pattern and then were tasked with making their own. This opportunity was very successful in terms of member turn-out and number of bracelets made.

Texas Cares holds adoptions often, so H.E.A.T. members helped clean the cages and the adoption center in PetSmart. H.E.A.T. members also played and interacted with the cats and spoke to potential adopters. Our animal committee leader was able to lead our H.E.A.T. team for this event.

We received a tour of the BHHR facility and were introduced to many rescued horses and their rescue stories. Later, we picked up litter along the horse pasture in order to keep that area clean for the horses as it is close to a major highway. It was a great experience getting to visit the BHHR facility for the first time, and H.E.A.T. will definitely be volunteering there again soon.

We adopted and funded two koalas, Zenani and Crescent Head Jimmy from the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital in Australia. Both koalas suffered life-threatening injuries from the winter Australian bushfires, so our adoption helped fund their safe recovery.