Not feeling the love this Valentine’s Day? Some organizations across the U.S. are offering unconventional ways to help the broken-hearted move on while raising funds for a cause. From naming a rodent after an ex to watching a raptor feast on a rat bearing your former partner’s name, these creative fundraisers are providing an outlet for people looking to turn their heartbreak into humor.
Animal shelters and zoos have introduced various initiatives that allow people to symbolically let go of past relationships. The Minnesota Zoo’s “Name a Bug” campaign, for example, lets donors name a cockroach after someone, friend or foe before feeding it to a larger animal.
Meanwhile, some shelters offer the chance to name a feral cat after an ex before it undergoes neutering.
For many, these fundraisers offer a lighthearted way to cope with past heartbreak. Teri Scott from Poulsbo, Washington, was overwhelmed by social media promotions of anti-love campaigns that, while she found the idea of naming a cockroach after her ex amusing, she feared it might symbolize an unwanted attachment.
Instead, she opted for the “Love Hurts” fundraiser by the Bird Treatment and Learning Center in Anchorage, Alaska. By donating $100, she had a frozen rat named after her ex, which was then fed to a raptor at the facility, Scott, who recently celebrated her first anniversary as a single woman, saw it as a way to treat herself.
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“You never enter a relationship thinking it’s going to end, but when it does, it’s just hurtful,” Scott shared. “I just thought, I need to do something a little bit special for myself.”
Laura Atwood, the executive director of the Bird Treatment and Learning Center, emphasized that the event is all in good fun. The funds raised go toward caring for birds and covering operational costs.
Last year, the nonprofit rehabilitated 580 birds, and this year’s campaign alone raised over $18,000, so many people participated that they temporarily ran out of frozen rats.
For those looking for a more budget-friendly option, the center offers a $10 mealworm-naming option, where the worm is fed to a crow or magpie. A video of the event is then shared online.
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For people like Caleigh Johnson, these fundraisers are more than just a joke they’re a way to bond with friends. Johnson has been encouraging her friends to donate in the hopes of making her ex one of the most frequently named individuals in the zoo’s smelly shout-out.
“I’m hoping a few people will come through,” she said. “It’s just a fun way to celebrate Galentine’s Day with my friends.”
Whether seeking revenge, closure, or just a good laugh, these unique Valentine’s Day fundraisers offer a refreshing take on healing from heartbreak while supporting a worthy cause.
