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Meals on Wheels grant provides pet food

News

August 3, 2017

Meals on Wheels America has awarded a $1,500 grant to Senior Resources to support the agency’s Pet Pals program. The grant will buy dog, cat and bird food for the pets of Meals on Wheels clients. The program currently serves 71 pets of 50 Meals on Wheels clients. The Meals on Wheels America grant will provide a two-month supply of pet food for these clients.

Pet Pals was started by Senior Resources in 2006, when some Meals on Wheels volunteers noticed previous days’ food trays left on the floor or at the back door of their clients’ homes.

“These clients were unable to purchase food for their pets due to financial or transportation restrictions. Rather than letting their beloved pets go hungry, they were sharing their delivered meals with their pets,” said Senior Resources Executive Director Pam Dukes. “When we heard these reports, we established our Pet Pals program to provide pet food to these clients so that they would not have to sacrifice their own meals.”

In total, Meals on Wheels America has granted $300,000 to 193 local Meals on Wheels programs through the Meals on Wheels Loves Pets initiative this year. Funding is made possible in part through a donation from Banfield Charitable Trust (BCT). To date, the grant program has distributed more than $2.4 million in funding and pet food donations.

“While the benefits of companionship are clear, taking care of a pet can be financially and physically challenging for seniors,” said Meals on Wheels America President and CEO Ellie Hollander. “Meals on Wheels Loves Pets helps local Meals on Wheels providers alleviate this hardship and at the same time reduce the negative effects of isolation.”