By: Jenn Geibel, Senior Director of Clinic & Community Services
At Animal Friends, we know that pets are valued members of the family. We also recognize that many families in our region suffer from food insecurity, and if people are hungry, so are their pets. In 2007, Animal Friends established the Chow Wagon Pet Food Bank to address this concern and to keep pets in homes with the families who love them. Each month, our Chow Wagon distributes more than 8,500 pounds of pet food to 32 local food pantries, social service agencies, homeless shelters, Meals on Wheels programs, veteran’s agencies and countless pet owners and colony caretakers.
As many businesses and individuals were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, we knew that the Chow Wagon would be needed now more than ever. With mass lay offs and business closures, families who have never had to seek assistance were now turning to Animal Friends in search of food for their beloved pets. The number of individuals needing help quickly increased by 65-75% – more than our current partnering organizations could assist alone. This overwhelming need inspired us to host the first of its kind, mass drive-thru pet food distribution. This no-contact event put more than 17,000 pounds of pet food into the hands of the people who needed it most, supporting nearly 1,600 hungry pets in our region!
While so many members of our community remain out of work, we plan to continue an increased level of support to individuals in need. As impactful as our drive-thru distribution was, transportation barriers prevented many of our neighbors from accessing this much-needed resource. So, we began identifying local communities with the greatest need. We have been busy collaborating with local leaders and business owners to establish satellite Chow Wagon Pet Food Hubs, which will serve as a much-needed pet food resource within each community and offer pet food directly to the pets and people who need it most.
None of this would be possible without our generous donors. The Chow Wagon Pet Food Bank is run solely on donations from the community, including in-kind donations of pet food and monetary donations. Every little bit helps to keep the hungry pets of our region fed, and in their homes where they belong.
To learn about the ways you can support our Chow Wagon Pet Food Bank, visit ThinkingOutsideTheCage.org/SupportChowWagon.
