Animal Welfare Professionals

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  • 1.  Food Bank

    Posted 09-21-2022 01:10 PM
    I am the Director of Liberty County Animal Services located in Hinesville, Ga. We have a community food bank for our County Citizens, we also support 3 other counties and 2 rescues with donated food for their animals. We are all running extremely low on dog food and  I've exhausted all my contacts.  What programs are other shelters using to support their food banks?
    #PetSupportServices*

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    Steve Marrero
    Liberty County Animal Services
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  • 2.  RE: Food Bank

    Posted 09-21-2022 01:47 PM
    We support multiple counties as well with our food bank and we have two locations where food is available for pick up. We have had really good success partnering with local grocery stores as well as a local pet food store with a food bin outside. Community members can purchase food and drop that food in the bin. We have a volunteer that checks the bins and brings the food in regularly. It's a win-win since the stores are making money and we are getting the food we need for those in need in our communities. We also run donation food drives throughout the year at the local schools and through local community groups, like Girls Scouts, high school service clubs, etc. We use some of our events as a food drive too. We have also reached out to larger pet food companies and received pet food from time to time. Hopefully that helps!

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    Erin Ellis
    Community Engagement Director
    Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe

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    Foster Program & Volunteer Management Specialist
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  • 3.  RE: Food Bank

    Posted 09-22-2022 02:59 PM
    HI Steve;

         There are some big supply resources: https://greatergood.org/goods.
    I run PAWSitivepantry.org which covers Vermont and Massachusetts with pet food for over 200 food pantries in each state.  
    So there are sources for big donations like above, however, we have found that retail donations have dried up a lot in the last six months so I have had to turned to foundations to expand our funding.  Pet Food Banks do "sell" well with foundations.  If you reach out to your local rotary to ask for financial support they are usually good for $500 donation after you attend one of their luncheons. Banks are also great resources.  

    For crowd sourced donations you might want to reach out to the folks at Cuddly as they have a pet food pantry program.  Feel free to reach out to them at: petpantry@cuddly.com.

    Good luck!

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    Stacy LeBaron
    Head Cat
    The Community Cats Podcast
    Warren VT
    978-239-2090
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  • 4.  RE: Food Bank

    Posted 09-23-2022 08:18 AM
    Hey Steve- so I think there are some opportunities out there for you. Of course you can solicit donations directly from your community using an Amazon wish list or a giving platform like Cuddly. There are also some bulk donation options through Greater Good's Rescue Bank/ GOODS program, and if you contact your state HSUS rep, they have some pallets of food for distribution right now as well that I heard about.

    Hope this helps!

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    Alexis Pugh
    Director, Memphis Animal Services
    www.memphisanimalservices.com

    Organizational Management
    & Pet Support Services Specialist
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  • 5.  RE: Food Bank

    Posted 09-23-2022 08:36 AM
    Lots of people get food from Chewy: https://www.chewy.com/g/give-back

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    M Saucedo
    GIS Analyst
    Pets for Life
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  • 6.  RE: Food Bank

    Posted 09-25-2022 10:04 AM
    Hi Steve,
    I oversee the Community Pet Pantry at San Diego Humane Society. I might have a few options for you if you have some time to chat next week. 
    Quinn 
    Qdouglas-hiley@sdhumane.org  

    Community Pet Pantry
    Sdhumane remove preview
    Community Pet Pantry
    San Diego Humane Society is supporting families and their pets who need a little extra help. Through the Community Pet Pantry, anyone can visit our campuses in El Cajon, Escondido, Oceanside or San Diego to pick up a bag of dog or cat food, and other supplies, as available.
    View this on Sdhumane >
     


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    Quinn Douglas-Hiley
    Community Pet Pantry Supervisor
    San Diego Humane Society
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  • 7.  RE: Food Bank

    Posted 09-26-2022 06:59 AM

    Absolutely, What time and day works for you?

     

    Steve Marrero

    Liberty County Animal Services

    Director

    (912) 876-9191 ext 1702 (Main Office)

    (912) 321-2419 (Cell)

    www.libertycountyga.com

     

    "Courage is the first of human qualities,

    because it is the quality which guarantees all the others."

    Winston Churchill                                                                                               

                                                                             

     

     

     






  • 8.  RE: Food Bank

    Posted 09-26-2022 07:53 AM
    HI Quinn,

    We've also been struggling with this and have been brainstorming ways to increase donations. Would I also be able to join this call? Or alternatively, if I can't make the date/time that works for you both - could we set up another time to talk?

    I completely understand if that is not doable for you due to time constraints though! 

    Thanks,
    Cecilia Oliveros 
    Pet Retention Liaison 
    Animal Friends, Pittsburgh, PA 
    coliveros@thinkingoutsidethecage.org 


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    Cecilia Oliveros
    Pet Retention Liaison
    Animal Friends
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  • 9.  RE: Food Bank

    Posted 10-03-2022 12:34 PM
    Hi Steve,
    A few idea's that our organization has utilized in the past that have been helpful 
    -Established rescue partnerships with local and large pet supply companies that are willing to donate supplies that they no longer will carry, or returned items they can not resale.
    -Some of the pet supply companies set up a donation box for our organization and contact us when it is full.
    -Local churches host food drives and sometimes get pet supplies donated to them and they maybe willing to pass forward.
    -Walmart or if their is an equivalent in your area, has donated pet supplies when they change their display's and do not want to throw away any supplies that could be used.
    -We have put out plea's to our community and have gotten a good response. Even the young community members have utilized their birthday gatherings to gather supplies instead of bringing gifts which was amazing and created a great engagement opportunity.
    -Connect with your local girl or boy scouts groups, and inquire if there is an opportunity for the groups to gain experience/badges that maybe beneficial.
    -Some large corporate groups have a day or week of giving back to the community, and look for various ways they can participate and also promote the various needs or resources that are offered.
    Those are the top ones that come to mind and if I think of any more will definitely pass along.

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    Auriana Brown
    Director of Client Services
    LifeLine Animal Project
    Atlanta, GA
    404-490-1427

    Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice and
    Pet Support Services Specialist
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