This is such a wonderful time of year for nonprofits. Many of our community members are in the spirit of giving and supporting our shelter, which makes it an excellent time to highlight a few important reminders to ensure your generosity has the most impact.

• Research what a charity needs first before purchasing items. It can be so tempting to walk down the aisles of stores and grab up a bunch of things you think our pets might like. To avoid accidentally buying something we cannot use, please reference our wish lists first: https://berksarl.org/wishlist-2/. Some of the most common items donated that we cannot use are stuffed animals (made for humans), pet bowls, pet clothing, oversized pet beds, and comforters that cannot be washed in a standard washing machine.
• Gift-giving can be hard, and in this material world, who really needs more stuff? You can give the “gift” of a donation to a loved one today by supporting the ARL in honor of someone else. This is a great way to let someone know you care about what is important to them, and we will take care of notifying them for you at your request. Find out more here: https://berksarl.org/memorial-and-honorarium-gifts/
• Tax advantages – Giving at the end of the year can have excellent tax benefits based on whether or not you itemize your taxes. If you plan to make a year-end donation, you must ensure that any written checks have a date on or before December 31, 2023, and any online donations are made before the new year.

Thank you so much to everyone who supports the ARL, especially this time of year.