Nebraska Wildlife Rehab, Inc. is a home-based, all-volunteer organization. We could not operate without the extreme generosity of our volunteers -- But there are limits to what a home-based organization can accomplish. We know that without a facility of our own NWRI will not be able to grow to meet the needs of our community.

• Each year as development in the state of Nebraska increases, encounters with wildlife become more and more frequent.
• The number of calls received by NWRI and the number of people and animals is increasing exponentially.
• There is no permanent wildlife rehabilitation center in the state of Nebraska. In fact, Nebraska is one of only three states that do not have at least one permanent wildlife rehabilitation facility within its borders.
• Compassion for wildlife and the environment starts early - Nebraska needs more factually based education programs for students that emphasize compassion and the importance of environmental conservation and habitat restoration.

centralize operations, enabling us to:

• Answer thousands more inquiries from the public each year, and to save more animals.
• Coordinate volunteers and supplies more efficiently.
• Take in wildlife in need in a centralized location, eliminating confusion for the public.
• Provide more educational programs to the public.
• Raise additional funds for our mission and our programs each year.

Within the next twelve months, NWRI will push to raise the funds to move our base of operations into a storefront facility in the Omaha metro area, and to raise the funds to operate this facility for a minimum of two years. From this facility, a paid director will be able to coordinate volunteers to staff our hotline, transport and rehabilitate animals, and to raise funds for day-to-day operations and educational programs. Through this facility and its staff, the public will be able to experience wildlife rehabilitation first hand, and receive education regarding our state's natural resources. It is our intention that after a period of time in a storefront facility, we will be able to raise additional funding to build our own facility on a larger piece of land in the area.

We envision the storefront as a base of operations for the public and for our volunteers. The public will be able to bring wildlife in need to the facility, and find resources there to become more educated about our native wildlife and environment. Our volunteers will be able to pick up supplies and animals in this centralized location, and find help expediently if they have questions. Our hotline will be operated from the facility, rather than being routed out to several different locations.

At the facility, we will be able to conduct programs for school, scout and civic groups. Children will be able to learn first-hand about the wildlife of Nebraska and what can be done to preserve our natural resources. Expanding our educational programs is a major goal of this project. With a permanent facility, we will also be able to partner with local universities to conduct scientific monitoring of the animals we rehabilitate.

The estimated 1-year budget for a storefront facility is $150,000. To launch our initiative, we will need to raise a minimum of $300,000. Please consider how important the services NWRI are in this community, and how much more needs to be done.

We need your help! Please consider a generous donation to NWRI today! Your support will help us better care for the animals in need in our area, and allow us to expand our public education programs. Together we can work to ensure the preservation of our native ecosystems for years to come!