Your Donations at WORK | Member Testimonial from Salem's Light

Jamie ToolBank • November 8, 2023

Equipping Salem's Light with the right equipment to provide preventative care for our four-legged friends!

As a non-Virginian, fall is such a wild season to me with the random hot days followed by chilly temps. I’m not quite sure what to do with it, so I’m enjoying autumnal fall walks in shorts & a tank top while cooking tasty soups. Hopefully, you’re finding ways to enjoy this confusing fall weather.


It’s hard to believe that November is already here, which means that one of my favorite days of the year is just around the corner. Giving Tuesday takes place on Tuesday, November 28, and I love witnessing  the launch of the giving spirit as the holiday season continues.


When a Tools for Change member agency submits a testimonials, it's amongst my favorite notifications to receive.  I don’t know about you, but it’s easy to get lost in the daily weeds of work, and I am thankful for these beautiful submissions to snap me back to reality of what we accomplish here on the daily.


Here’s one from Salem's Light, a Richmond non-profit that strives to improve the lives of dogs through community outreach, education, advocacy, and proactive spay and neuter.


Salem’s Light: Tools for Change Member Agency


  • “We have used the ToolBank multiple times for tents and tables to help host Street Dog Coalition free veterinary clinics for pets of the homeless and those at risk of homelessness. This is a huge benefit as the number of tables and tents needed vary from clinic to clinic and resources and storage concerns limit the amount we have on-hand!”


  • “With limited funding and resources, we have a standard supply of tables and tents but often need additional supplies for single-day events. The ToolBank makes the process of renting supplies incredibly easy and affordable!”


  • “Many of the pet owners helped during these events don't have the funds to provide necessary care for their pets. These events ensure that owners are able to keep their pets and that they have appropriate vaccines and other veterinary care. Tables and tents for individual veterinary stations are an essential part of these outdoor events!”


They sent a follow up after a recent pop-up clinic, and let me know:

✅ They cared for for 40 dogs & 17 cats (57 animals total)

💉 Each pet received a basic veterinarian exam, vaccinations, microchips & preventatives


YOUR donation, large or small, help all of us over at the Richmond ToolBank provide the necessary tools and equipment for our member agencies to do good throughout our community for four-legged and two-legged folks alike!


Signing off to go pack for an upcoming fall camping adventure down in Pisgah National Park this weekend,

Jamie




PS - Are you ready for Giving Tuesday? Leave us a comment if you’re going to participate in this year! Maybe include a note about which organization you’re targeting and why. I love hearing from our community, especially when it comes to such an inspiring day.

By Jamie ToolBank May 7, 2025
Project Spotlight: A ToolBank Member's Inspiring Work
By Jamie ToolBank April 29, 2025
Morgan has joined the ToolBank team as our ToolBOX Program Coordinator.
By Jamie ToolBank April 8, 2025
Summer Schedule is HERE + some big news for ToolBOX!
By Jamie ToolBank April 7, 2025
Last post, we shared the progress our Tools for Change program made in Q1 and now, we’re covering Building Change & our ToolBOX workshops (psstt - we’ve got some exciting news on that front). Building Change: Hands-On Heroes! Our Building Change volunteers have been busy bees, and the results are simply beautiful! In Q1, 110 dedicated individuals put their skills and energy to work, hand-building 45 gorgeous outdoor pieces . Imagine relaxing on one of the 23 picnic tables or 17 park benches crafted with care, or adding a touch of green with the 3 planter benches and 2 Adirondack chairs . These thoughtfully crafted items have been donated to vital community spaces such as Richmond Public Libraries , Shalom Farms , and the All City Arts Club , creating tangible improvements that everyone can enjoy. It's amazing to see the direct impact of your hands-on contributions! 🎉 HUGE News for ToolBOX! Welcome, Morgan! 🎉 Get ready to pop the confetti because we have some seriously exciting news to share about our ToolBOX program! We are absolutely thrilled to announce that we've welcomed Morgan Day as our first full-time Program Coordinator! Morgan's passion, dedication, and expertise are truly infectious, and having her in a full-time role is going to be a game-changer for our homeowner workshops. Get ready for an even wider range of diverse topics, more convenient scheduling options, and even more expert-led learning opportunities designed to help you level up your DIY skills and tackle those home projects with confidence! We're so stoked to see ToolBOX flourish under Morgan's leadership. Here's a peek at the skills being unlocked through ToolBOX: We hosted 8 total workshops Covering topics from Power Tools 101 and Drywall to Home Energy , Home Maintenance , and Electrical basics . That's 14 hours of valuable instruction delivered! With 71 enthusiastic participants learning new skills. And the feedback has been fantastic! Here's what some of our participants had to say: "Our teacher was great! I felt comfortable asking "silly" questions and the answers she provided were well considered and informative." "These workshops have been so informative! I appreciate the ability to practice and ask questions relevant to my experience and home projects." Feeling Inspired? Let's Keep the Momentum Going! 💪 Want to continue being a vital part of the ToolBank's mission to empower change? Here's how you can get even more involved: Volunteer Your Time: Join our friendly team every Wednesday from 9 AM to 12 PM . Every helping hand makes a significant difference in keeping our operations running smoothly! Donate to Fuel Change: Your financial contributions directly support our Tools for Change program, enabling us to equip even more community projects with the resources they need to thrive. Donate today and be a catalyst for good: https://giving.classy.org/campaign/646752/donate Build with Your Team: Looking for a rewarding and impactful team-building activity? Organize a custom Building Change session! Email Toby at toby@richmondtoolbank.org to schedule your team build and make a tangible difference together. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for being such an essential part of the ToolBank family and for helping us build a stronger, more vibrant Central Virginia. We're absolutely thrilled to see what incredible things we can accomplish together in the rest of 2025! Cheers, Jamie
By Jamie ToolBank April 3, 2025
Wow, Q1 already in the rearview mirror? Time really does fly when you're making a difference! We here at the ToolBank are absolutely buzzing with excitement to share the incredible impact we've made together in the first three months of 2025. Get ready to high-five yourself, because you played a HUGE part in all of this! Tools for Change 🛠️ Our flagship Tools for Change program continues to be the heart and soul of what we do, providing vital resources to the amazing organizations working tirelessly in our community. And let us tell you, your support has been nothing short of phenomenal! We were so touched by the heartfelt words from Start 1 Spark , " Grateful to have the ToolBank as a resource!" 🙌 That simple sentence speaks volumes about the impact we're creating together. This past quarter, thanks to you, we equipped a staggering 96 community projects with over $102,000 worth of tools ! Can you believe it? That's a whole lot of hammers, drills, and saws getting into the hands of those who need them most. This incredible achievement was powered by the dedication of 2,399 amazing volunteers who rolled up their sleeves and put these tools to work. We also had the privilege of hearing firsthand from organizations like Tech for Troops about the significant savings they achieved on essential equipment. They shared that by borrowing from the ToolBank, they saved a bundle on chairs, tables, and safety cones, allowing them to host 300 guests for a crucial event while staying within budget. Stories like these truly highlight the real and tangible change our tools facilitate. Here's a snapshot of the impact: 96 total projects empowered 2,399 dedicated volunteers equipped 2,824 essential tools borrowed A whopping $102,396.72 value of tools in action! And our members only spent a collective $6,536.26 to access these vital resources. We're so proud to support incredible organizations like Henrico County HEART , Sacred Heart Center , Tech for Troops , Woodland Restoration Foundation , Start 1 Spark , and Rise Against Hunger . Each of these groups is making a real difference in Central Virginia, and we're honored to play a part in their success. In our next post, we’ll cover our two other programs - Building Change & ToolBOX. Stay tuned…  Until then, we’re hoping you’re finding ways to enjoy the spring sunshine!
By Jamie ToolBank February 13, 2025
Check out the newest addition to the Buttermilk Trail - courtesy of Friends of the James River.
By Jamie ToolBank January 24, 2025
Achieve Your Home Goals This Year with ToolBOX
By Jamie ToolBank January 20, 2025
2024 in Review: Building Change, Tools for Change, and So Much More!
By Jamie ToolBank November 5, 2024
ToolBOX receives game-changing grant from Impact 100 Richmond
By Jamie ToolBank October 29, 2024
Learn how our Tools for Change program has impacted two local nonprofits supporting Richmond communities.
More Posts