Our mission is to improve the physical and psychological well-being of animals in human care, repurpose materials that would otherwise be in landfills, and teach and encourage other organizations and animal care professional to do the same. Hose2Habitat accepts and facilitates donations of used fire hose and other materials destined for landfills and unites not just one segment, but many diverse m
embers of the community, veterans, at-risk youth, people with disabilities, seniors, low-income families, school groups, and others, with joyful projects that combine volunteering, recycling, and endangered species education. Those items are then donated to local zoos and sanctuaries. Hose2Habitat projects increase the self-esteem and connectedness, while promoting volunteering, recycling, community involvement, and endangered species education. As volunteer EMTs at the local county fire department, the founders saw dumpsters of hose being taken to landfills. As avid zoo goers and animal lovers, they knew that zoos could use the hose. Zoos need donations of fire hose, but have difficulty finding out who to contact to get it. Fire departments don't want the fire hose to go to waste, but don't know that zoos would welcome it. The founders decided to work to connect these to interests. Since they live outside of Washington, DC, the National Zoo was the first to receive donations through the program. Other zoos followed, but they want to take this beyond what we could do by ourselves. So, in June 2014, they launched a successful crowd funding campaign on Indiegogo, incorporated, and were granted 501(c)(3) recognition. Growing into an international organization to help zoos and animal sanctuaries fulfill "wish lists" through community support and involvement. This is only the beginning!
