Best Friends Team No More Homeless Pets volunteers collected another 3,821 pounds of pet food last week in the First Home Forever Home Four Legged Food Drive, sending the total collected to date well beyond the 10,000-pound mark to a grand total of 10,825 pounds.
This provides enough to give 10 pounds of food to 1,082 animals and feed each pet for a month or more, depending on the size of the pet and the daily intake.
The Four Legged Food Drive, which began three weeks ago, is a project being organized by First Home Forever Home in conjunction with Best Friends volunteers in 13 communities across the United States. The goal of the project is to collect pet food for families in need to help people keep their pets in these difficult economic times. To date, nine of the 13 teams have begun their local collection efforts, and four other teams will be launching in the next few weeks. To see complete details about the Four Legged Food Drive and for a list of participating cities, see our earlier article: Team NMHP Steps Up to the Pet Food Plate.
High Total in Washington
Last week's high total of 2,884 lbs. was collected in southern Washington. Volunteers in that area, led by Georgia B., are working in conjunction with Rescued Paws, a humane, no-kill organization established in November, 2006 by a small group of dedicated animal lovers in Southwest Washington. Rescued Paws (RPAWS) does not have a physical location, but consists of a network of foster homes. Food collected in the food drive will support the efforts of Lower Columbia Community Action Program, which maintains food banks for several Southwest Washington cities, and will distribute to their families in need.
Florida & North Carolina Weigh In
The Orlando, Florida team, led by Lauren W., collected 543 lbs. of food last week, bringing their team total to 775 lbs. The Orlando volunteers are working to support the Central Florida Animal Pantry, a newly established pet food bank started by nine-year-old Zach Wilson (pictured above). The Orlando team's goal is to collect 10,000 pounds of food to help the animals of Central Florida.
The North Carolina team, led by Pamela H., gathered 326 lbs. of food by tabling on Sunday afternoon outside of a local Wal-Mart in Raleigh. Food collected in North Carolina will be donated to the SPCA of Wake County Pet Food Pantry.
Volunteers in Jacksonville, led by Carrie G., brought in an additional 67 lbs. of pet food at multiple collections sites in the area to support the work of Mission Harvest America in Jacksonville.
“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 said.
How You Can Help
Contact your local food bank to make a donation of pet food. First Home Forever Home is compiling a list of organizations that provide pet food to families in need. See our list in the Pet Food Banks folder on the resources in this community.
For More Information
The goal of Best Friends’ First Home Forever Home campaign is to help 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.
Photo of Zach Wilson courtesy of Lauren White
Photo of pet food bin courtesy of Nicole Saunders