An arm of the Gilmer Community Food Pantry that gives pet food to dog and cat owners who receive their own food from the pantry could use a helping hand.
The pet food pantry, which has been going for a few years now, is a self-sustaining project that relies on pet food donations from multiple sources including the Atlanta Humane Society, Homeward Bound Pet Rescue, local residents and others explained Mindy Petzer, pet food pantry coordinator.
“It’s really picked up, particularly within the last year,” Petzer said. “There’s a constant need (in the community).”
The amount of pet food provided by the Humane Society is limited and has decreased since the pet food pantry first started, Petzer noted. The generosity of local residents has helped fill the gap, allowing the pantry to provide families with supplemental pet food for up to three dogs and three cats.
When clients come to the pantry for their monthly food pickup, they can also receive the pet food, which is portioned into Ziploc bags. It’s not intended to be a month’s supply, but more like enough for a week, Petzer noted.
“We want to be able to maintain this program so pets can stay at home instead of ending up at the animal shelter,” said Petzer. “Our clients are very appreciative of this assistance. They tell me they have no idea what they’d do if they didn’t have access to this extra pet food.”
The pantry typically distributes almost 3,000 pounds of donated pet food a month. Currently, food is provided for just shy of 1,000 dogs and cats, Petzer noted. The numbers of pets in need and new families coming to the pantry are growing, she added.
“Right now, almost 85 percent of the pantry’s clients have pets,” Petzer said.
In order to continue the program, the pet food pantry’s volunteer staff is asking for donations of unused or newly purchased pet food. There are several ways this can be done, Petzer noted.
The food pantry has a bin marked Pet Food Only next to its location at 5273 Highway 52 East, and donations can be dropped off there.
“They can just bring it and leave it in the bin,” Petzer said.
The food pantry also has accounts set up on pet product website Chewy.com and a gift registry on Walmart.com under the Spark Good heading.
Walmart Spark Good is a program that allows nonprofits like the food pantry to post wish lists, Petzer noted.
“On Chewy, they can look us up under the shelter program and choose us to donate to. It’s kind of the same on Walmart.com. Under the gift registries, there’s one called Spark Good, which is where we’re listed,” she added. “Whatever they order will be delivered to the food pantry.”
Donations of both wet and dry dog and cat food are being accepted. The pantry also accepts opened bags of pet food that have been resealed, as well as damaged bags from retailers.
“In order to keep this going for next year, we’re hoping to get some continuing support from the community,” Petzer said.