SUAMICO (NBC26) — The NEW Zoo was closed for three months at the start of the pandemic, and with the holidays coming, they're taking this time to find creative ways to virtually raise money.
“Losing out on three of our busiest months of earning revenue, that is huge for us," said Angela Kawski, Education Coordinator for the NEW Zoo. It’s a big deal so we have been doing everything we can really to try to make up for that.”
The zoo has done everything they can to save money, she said.
“We’ve had enough to kind of just pull through for this year, but we don’t know what next year is going to look like," said Kawski. "There’s only so many ways that you can cut costs at a zoo, we still have to have staff here, we still have to feed the animals, we still have to take care of them, there’s not really a lot of ways that we can reduce our expenses beyond what we’ve already done.”
This holiday season, community members can help the zoo out by buying gifts off their Amazon Wish-List. Trash bins, heat lamps and shovels are just a few of the things the zoo needs.
“It’s a really easy way for people to hop on and shop and find something that fits their budget," said Kawski.
The zoo has been doing the wish list for years, but people are really stepping up this year, said Kawski.
“One fan purchased a jungle gym that we’ve had on that wish list for like, five years it’s been on there," she said. "A huge jungle gym for our monkeys.”
The online retailer Animal Pride will donate 100 percent of sales, up to $10,000, on Thanksgiving Day to the zoo. They sell animal and pet themed clothes — some featuring animals from the NEW Zoo.
As part of giving tuesday, or 'Giving ZOODay' next week, the zoo is trying to get 50 donations by December first.
“They don’t have to give back a lot but every dollar really does make a difference," said Kawski. "It goes directly back into keeping the zoo open.”
