PO Box 12220
Fort Pierce, Florida 34979
Contact: Monica Naranjo, Volunteer & Outreach Coordinatormonica@savethechimps.org
(772) 429-2225
Save the Chimps provides and builds support for permanent sanctuary for the lifelong care of chimpanzees rescued from research laboratories, entertainment and the pet trade. Every day the staff and volunteers of Save the Chimps provide care to more than 250 chimpanzees. Supporters can make a more personal connection with individual chimps through the Adopt-a-Chimp program.
For your mitzvah project, you may choose from one of the following or call to see how you can help. Please note that volunteers visiting our facilities must be 18 years of age or older.
Chimpiñatas: make paper mache’ balls that will be stuffed with enrichment items for the chimpanzees; follow the link to learn how to make them. This can be a bit of a messy project, but that’s what makes it all the more fun. Be creative and make different shaped chimpiñatas, or decorate them with funny faces or messages (using Sharpie’s or watercolor paints). You can also ask your friends to collect some of the food items that will be used in the chimpiñatas, such as dried fruit (pineapple, apple, raisins, craisins, dried papaya, banana chips) or nuts (we prefer unsalted) in shell.
Stuffed toys and dolls: collect used stuffed toys and dolls (we cannot use items that are stuffed with pellets, beans or use batteries) and even old dog toys such as Kongs. Some of the chimpanzees love toys and maybe you have a toy chest full of things you no longer use. Our rule of thumb at the Sanctuary is that if the toy is deemed safe for a child ages 3 and under, it is safe for the chimpanzees.
Tennis Balls: collect tennis balls from your local tennis club and ship them to the Sanctuary. We use tennis balls as an enrichment device for the chimpanzees. Each tennis ball has a hole drilled in it and are stuffed with sunflower seeds, so it’s quite similar to a seed pod that the chimpanzees would find in the jungle. You can also ask your friends to purchase sunflower seeds (we prefer unsalted in the shell) that we would use to stuff them with.