To Baypath Humane Society of Hopkinton, Jim contributed "Bandit", the first of his photographs to become a standard puzzle. While visiting his brother in St. Croix, Jim captured this intriguing double exposure of flowers, a house, and a kitten, all bathed in Caribbean sunlight. The "Bandit" puzzle will be featured at the humane society’s annual auction.

Baypath strongly advocates and promotes the health and welfare of animals. They find appropriate homes for stray and unwanted animals and educate adopters and the public about proper pet care and the prevention of cruelty to animals. Every year, the shelter finds loving homes for more than 700 dogs and cats.

"We’re very grateful for the generous donation of fellow animal lover, Jim Ayer," said Kim Beaulieu, board president and auction chairperson of Baypath Humane Society of Hopkinton. "I’m sure the lucky recipient will appreciate the adorable feline image as well as the craftsmanship of the Ayer puzzle."

A long-time supporter of public radio, Jim has donated puzzles for the WGBH auction. WGBH is committed to promoting an informed and active citizenry. "Today, it’s especially important to support public stations that foster diverse perspectives," Jim said. WGBH has a rich history of bringing the arts, sciences, and humanities to life for as wide an audience as possible.

To support AIDS research, Jim donated his puzzle "Gloucester Humoresque" to the North Shore AIDS Health Project. The richly detailed puzzle highlights the work of William Meyerowitz, one of the most influential artists of the last century. A lighthearted view of his hometown of Gloucester, the puzzle is a quite popular among North Shore residents.

Manchester Selectwoman Sue Thorn placed the winning bid for the puzzle at the Gloucester AIDS charity auction. "It was very generous of Jim to donate," Thorn said. "His puzzles are fabulous fun to do."

Jim also donated custom puzzles to support the critical work of Help for Abused Women and Children (HAWC) in Gloucester. The organization offers emergency and support services to battered women and their children and works to end the cycle of violence against women. HAWC also educates women about their options and provides a nurturing environment to interact with others who understand their situation.

To help raise funds for HAWC, Jim crafted a wooded puzzle "canvas," on which HAWC board member Natalie Bloom then painted a scene of Briton homes in Pontaven, a coastal French town where Goghan and Van Gogh once shared a home. He later created a puzzle from a slide of one of Bloom’s still life paintings.

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