Looking for a whole bunch of hands

I’ve written about people who spend their time and their finances rescuing animals caught in difficult circumstances. It’s not easy finding the resources to feed and keep animals, spending time and money treating the sick and wounded, finding homes for the healthy, but watching helplessly as some die of illness or injury.

Although this column is about pets, the topic seems one-sided at times. After all, although pets may take up a good part of the lives of some of us, they are, in fact, just part of our lifestyle.

You can’t help animals without being concerned about the rest of life – children, young people, women, men and the elderly. The list can go on and on.

A great number of organisations throughout the country concentrate on different aspects of society that need development. There are so many, in fact, that people often don’t know which ones are legitimate. They may not even know what the organisations do.

So today is the second (and final) day of an innovative exhibition called “Our Hands for a Better Thailand”.

Now being held in front of CentralWorld, the exhibition is organised by Khon Thai Foundation and the Thai Health Promotion Foundation to showcase more than 200 projects working in some way to help those who need help.

Each project, such as Will Share Foundation, the Rainbow Room Foundation, Doctor Me and Pick a Pet 4 Home, has set up a booth to exhibit activities, problems and benefits.

The organisers have prepared the entire exhibition in a unique way. You can visit as many of the exhibits as you wish and talk to the people manning the booths to find out what each needs. Then you can decide if you wish to help one or more of the projects.

Perhaps a project helping the elderly needs someone to visit senior citizens, to read to them or even just to talk to them.

Tharinee ‘Carrie’ Wipuchanin, who runs Pick a Pet 4 Home, says, “Money is always helpful, but, actually, anything people can donate is appreciated.” Pet food, medicines, cloths and blankets are always useful.

Equally important for her is that people who wish to support her help set up a network of friends, business colleagues and family to publicise the animals that need homes.

“Even if you don’t want a puppy or a kitten, perhaps you know someone who does,” she says.

Visitors can also contribute by shopping for quality local products, organic foods or dropping by the Pan Kan charity store stocked with brandname items donated by Club 21 Thailand and others.

At the same time, concerts by artists from many record labels are providing entertainment, free of charge.

Here’s a chance to visit Thailand's biggest street fair ever and discover ways to help the country.

For more information, check out: www.Facebook.com/ourhandsforbetterthailand.