Help MARS Help Wildlife

We are grateful for your support. If you have any questions regarding a donation, please contact us.

Local Giving

Great ways for our Comox Valley & Campbell River neighbours to help MARS.

Become a Member.

Join us in supporting the rehabilitation of injured, ill, and orphaned wildlife on North Vancouver Island.

Give a Gift-in-Kind.

One method of gifting that we could not do without is the gift-in-kind.  Building materials, labour, food for birds and animals, hospital supplies, veterinary expenses, crafting, caregiving, and office administration are just some of the many areas where the gift of giving need not be cash. Please contact us if you have special ways you’d like to give.

Donate Now: Once or Monthly.

It takes less than 5 minutes. We particularly appreciate monthly donations because they make it easier for us to budget for wildlife needs over longer periods.  We can also take charge card contributions over the phone at (778) 428-1990 or you can send or drop off a cheque if that is more convenient.

Join other Local Donors.

Local governments, service groups, and businesses big and small support our work. Take a look at this growing list here.

e-transfers gratefully accepted!

If e-transferring is more convenient, please send to info@marswildliferescue.com  Please include your full name and address if a tax receipt is required and indicated that the e-transfer is for donation. Thank you!

Barred Owl Baby

It is very hard to say no to generous people, but there are just some items we can’t accept!

Donations to MARS are the life’s blood of the organization. Without your contributions of food, linens, vitamins and cleaning products, we would have to raise thousands of additional dollars.

No, thank you! items for the Wildlife Hospital:

  • broken or rusted kennels or bird cages
  • stuffies with beans or pellets such as Beanie Babies
  • certain linens (please see our complete list here)
  • used bike tires
  • due to avian influenza, we can’t accept poultry or waterfowl meat, or eggs at this time. Please call the hospital regarding donations of venison

If you have something that you think might benefit wildlife care, call 250 337-2021 and leave a message. We will be happy to get back to you. 

No, thank you! items for the Visitor Centre
or for MARS in general:

Items for resale such as framed art, used furniture, coffee table books, single copies of books, etc. We don’t have the volunteers or the space required to store, advertise, and sell unique items.

Donated native trees and plants will be considered by the habitat restoration team; some plants don’t suit our site.

If you have something that might suit our gift shop or exhibits hall, please leave a message for our manager at 778 428-1990 or use our contact form.

Donate a Vehicle.

Donate a Car Canada accepts vehicle donations for MARS Wildlife Rescue Centre. Free towing is provided in most areas across Canada, or you can drop off your vehicle to maximize your donation. When you donate your car, truck, RV, boat, or motorcycle to MARS Wildlife Rescue Centre through Donate A Car Canada, it will either be recycled or sold at auction (depending on its condition, age and location). Donate a Car Canada will look after all the details to make it easy for MARS Wildlife Rescue Centre to benefit. After your vehicle donation is complete, you will receive a tax receipt and we will put your gift to good use. Please click here to donate a vehicle.

Click to view full PDF document from Canada Revenue Agency.

DO I GET A TAX RECEIPT?

MARS will gladly provide a tax receipt for the value of goods donated. As a federally registered charity, we are bound to operate in accordance with Canada’s taxation laws. Here is a quick guide for you to determine how tax receipts are defined.
Please don’t hesitate to contact MARS if you aren’t certain if your donation would qualify for a tax receipt.

Leave a legacy.

Include a charitable gift in your will.

A bequest to a charity can bring tax savings for your estate. Contact your financial advisor about ways that you can create a lasting legacy for wildlife.

Make MARS the beneficiary.

of your life insurance policy or donate the life insurance policy during your lifetime and receive a charitable tax receipt for the cash surrender value of the policy.

Name MARS as the beneficiary of your RRSP or RRIF.

There is no need to change your will when renaming a beneficiary to an insurance policy or RRSP/RRIF

Set up a living trust, known as a “charitable remainder trust”.

of cash assets and receive a charitable receipt for your donation. During your lifetime any interest, income or dividends will be paid to you as taxable income but, upon your death, the assets in the trust go to the charity you have chosen.

Donate stock, mutual funds or securities.

You do not have to pay capital gains tax on these investments when they are donated to a charity.

Make a gift of residential property.

to a charity like MARS and retain the right to use the property during your lifetime or for a specified period.

Your Support is Appreciated

Finally, we’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has already donated to MARS.  We couldn’t have made it this far without you.

MARS began its historic journey with Mary Jane Birch and her love for wildlife, but because of your ongoing generosity and support MARS now belongs to the entire community.

Thank you for any support you are able to offer MARS.  We hope you will become a member and join us in our work to help wildlife.