Helping families in Jacksonville keep their pets.
Posted by Judy Marshall, Best Friends Network Volunteer Program
In the past year more pets have been finding themselves homeless because their families are facing tough economic times.
This summer Best Friends Team No More Homeless Pets volunteers will be working in 13 cities and communities, including Jacksonville, FL, to collect pet food for families in need in the First Home Forever Home Four Legged Food Drive.
Carrie Good, project leader for the Jacksonville Team No More Homeless Pets® says: “I have had a lifelong passion for animal welfare. For years I have kept cat food in my car in case I see stray/feral cats. When I read an article in our local paper about the increased number of animals being turned in at our local shelters due to the economy, I knew this was something I needed to get involved with. I hope this project will be just the beginning of an ongoing food bank for my local community.”
Carrie Good and other volunteer team members will be collecting sealed and unexpired pet food through Labor Day weekend for Mission Harvest America, Inc., 69 Copeland Street, Jacksonville, FL 32204.
Pet Food Drop Off Locations:
Dames Point Animal Hospital
8321 Dames Point Crossing Blvd. N
Jacksonville, FL 32277
(904) 744-2699
Avalon of Deerwood Salon
9866 Baymeadows Rd.
Suite 1
Jacksonville, FL 32256
(904) 642-3389
Belle Rive Club Apartments
8715 Belle Rive Blvd.
Jacksonville, FL 32256
(904) 642-8558
More drop-off locations and upcoming events to collect pet food for the Four Legged Food Drive will be made available on the Jacksonville Community in the days ahead.
Goals of the Four-Legged Food Drive
To support food pantry work and current needs for pet food in local communities by collecting pet food that will help people keep their pets in these difficult economic times
To increase awareness about homeless animals and the goal of reaching a day when there are No More Homeless Pets
First Home Forever Home
The Best Friends “First Home Forever Home” campaign focuses on all aspects of helping people make and honor a lifetime commitment to their pets. Millions of companion animals die every year in crowded shelters because their families decided to let them go for some reason. Through education, intervention and action, First Home Forever Home provides guidance and resources to help people care for their pets and keep them as loved members of their families.
How You Can Help
Contact Volunteer Project Leader, Carrie Good, email: JaxPetFoodDrive@comcast.net for any of the following:
• To volunteer and help with the pet food drive, or
• To arrange for pickup of food or monetary donation. For monetary donation – make check payable to: “Mission Harvest America, Inc.” with a notation “for pet food bank”. Credit card donations can be taken by calling Henry Myers at the Mission Harvest office at (904) 356-9006.
Donate to the Best Friends First Home Forever Home campaign click here. Your donation will support the First Home, Forever Home Campaign, and help keep pets and their families happily together.
Photo courtesy of Carrie Good