Why We Chose It

We noticed how many animals end up in shelters with nothing of their own: no toys, no bedding, sometimes not even enough food. Our own dogs gets so much just for being part of our family, and it didn't feel right to keep that to ourselves. We wondered what it would take to make one shelter's week a little easier.

Our Plan

So we decided to run a neighborhood supply drive for the San Diego Humane Society. We made a flyer, went door to door, and asked neighbors and family to donate:

• Unopened dog or cat food & treats
• New or gently used pet toys
• Blankets & pet beds
• Collars, leashes & harnesses
• Food & water bowls
• Cleaning supplies

What We Did

Yekta and her mom handed out flyers around the neighborhood, then ran two more collection drives in the days that followed. Some neighbors left food, toys, blankets, and supplies right at our doorstep, others set items out on their own curbside for us to pick up, and we walked the neighborhood to collect everything and bring it home. It all piled up in the car for the drop-off. Both our dogs came along for the ride and, we think, approved of the toys. Finally, we loaded up the car and delivered everything to the San Diego Humane Society.

What We Learned

Asking people for help felt harder than expected: knocking on a neighbor's door takes more courage than you'd think. While many said no, many also said yes, and a few asked how they could do more. One neighbor's story stuck with us. She had just lost her dog to old age, and she gave us many of her things: her bed, her toys, her leash. She said it felt good knowing another dog would get to use them. That was the moment this project started feeling like something real. We also learned that the San Diego Humane Society already runs donation drives of its own, but most neighbors never hear about them unless they go looking or already know someone involved. A neighborhood needs someone to be its representative: a person who shows up, asks, and makes it easy to give. We were surprised how many donations we gathered in a single day. Having someone ask directly seems far more effective than waiting for people to find a drop-off box on their own. We also heard from a lot of neighbors that they loved the idea behind the YEKTA Initiative itself. Several told us how impressed they were that a young teenager cares about her community and is putting that care into action. That encouragement meant a lot, and it made us even more excited for next month.

The Ripple

Maybe you could try something similar. Check with your local animal shelter about what they need most, make a simple flyer, and ask some neighbors. That's it: that's the whole project.

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