Going to a shelter in person to volunteer can be a great way for animal-loving kids to help, but what about those who don’t live near a shelter, or who don’t meet the age requirements to volunteer at shelters? Fortunately, there are many ways for kids to help shelters from a distance.

1. Hold a supplies drive. Kids can collect items that might otherwise be thrown away but that can be used by shelters, such as old towels and sheets. A supplies drive is also a great way to get other kids involved and thinking creatively about ways to recycle used items into pet toys or beds.

2. Donate to pet food banks. These food banks often donate pet food to shelters or to the pets of needy families. Meals on Wheels, for example, brings food to their clients’ pets.

3. Foster a pet. Shelters themselves are often crowded with pets and welcome the opportunity to make some extra room by having families foster pets. This is one of the more time-consuming ways for kids to help a shelter, because the pet is the foster family’s responsibility for a while, but can be a great way to see if a child is ready for the responsibility of pet ownership without the commitment of permanently adopting a pet.

4. Use social media. Many shelters have Facebook pages or Twitter accounts where they announce upcoming events or share information about missing or found pets. Sharing these posts can allow a young social media mogul to increase awareness for shelters or reunite a pet with its owner, all without leaving their computer.

5. Donate money. While sending toys or other items to shelters is always appreciated, monetary donations are just as necessary to keep a shelter running (not to mention how much easier it is to mail an envelope of cash than a heavy box of treats). Encouraging your child to set aside part of their allowance to donate to an animal shelter is a simple way to get them into the habit of helping others on a regular basis.

6. Have a bake sale. To raise even more cash to send to shelters, kids can sell baked goods at school or to neighbors. This is one way to reach people who want to help shelters but are unable to contribute to a supplies drive; not everyone has time to make a dog toy, but most people can spare a few dollars for kids selling cookies for a cause!

These are just a few ways that kids can contribute to animal shelters without having to physically visit. Inspiring kids to help animal shelters will undoubtedly lead them to brainstorm some of their own creative ways to get involved!