When it comes to social causes and issues - whether related to conservation, health, education, poverty or animal protection, it's easy to look at the big picture and feel disheartened and helpless. Well, I came across a story recently that highlights the incredible impact just one person can have.
Mimi Ausland, a 12-year-old from Bend, Oregon, has harnessed the power of new media to help thousands of shelter animals. Last year - with the help of her parents - Mimi launched Freekibble.com and Freekibblekat.com with the original goal to collect food for the Humane Society of Central Oregon (HSCO). Site users can visit the site daily to answer a "Meow Trivia" or "Bow Wow Trivia" question. For every answer - correct or not - the site donates 10 pieces of kibble.
Sponsors Zootoo.com and pet food company Castor & Pollax have since jumped on board, allowing Mimi to expand her reach and become the sole supplier of food to 11 shelters around the country, including HSCO. Since June 2008, the sites have helped donate 47 million pieces of kibble to cats and dogs in need.
Mimi got the idea from the FreeRice campaign, in which rice is donated through the UN World Food program to help end hunger. Site visitors are able donate the rice by answering a series of vocabulary questions. To date, FreeRice has provided more than 58 billion grains of rice - incredible!
In the future, Mimi would like to run her own animal shelter. There's no doubt that she'll certainly (continue to) make the world a better place for animals! Many kudos to Mimi!
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