If the Zombie Apocalypse is not really a thing, then why are zombies everywhere? The Walking Dead, World War Z (the book – I am not acknowledging the movie unless they change the title. Plus, zombies don’t move that fast!), Shaun of the Dead, Call of Duty: Black Ops II, Warm Bodies, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Resident Evil 372 (or whatever they are up to now) and on and on.
Zombies can be found in every house with cable TV (or Netflix), so it’s not surprising they have also infiltrated the nonprofit world too.
Here are some fun ways organizations are cashing in (both literally and figuratively) on the popularity of the undead:
With hilarious photos with captions like “Grains? I thought you said ‘brains’ “ and “The undead should be able to help end hunger, but our cultural bias makes that impossible. Thanks to the Food Bank, that ends now,” the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas is encouraging volunteers to dress up like zombies on October 31st. Check out all of their zombie photos on Facebook.
The SPCA of Wake County in North Carolina has combined the trendiness of zombies with the timeless, irresistible power of cute kittens. They have created an entire back story, complete with video, on how you can adopt certified zombie-repellent cats and kittens from their shelters. Learn more about Dr. Lebensteinenski of the Romanian Feline Institute and his Feline Alert System Technology, or FAST training programs.
NSTeens, a program of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, uses zombies in an online game aimed to combat cyberbullying.
Arfpocalypse: Zombie Dog Fest outside of Indianapolis also benefits area shelters with an adoption drive. They are also trying to break the world record for most costumed dogs.
Many organizations are also taking the traditional fundraising walks and turning them into zombie walks, like the Houston Zombie Walk.
Halloween is a great time to have a little fun even if you have a very serious mission. For more Halloween inspiration see Kerri Karvetski’s 2013 Halloween Campaigns board on Pinterest.
Has your nonprofit been running a Halloween campaign this week or month? Let us know by commenting below!
