“No one should have to choose between feeding their pets and feeding themselves.” That’s the unofficial motto of Joybound’s FoodShare program, which provides thousands of pounds of free Purina pet food to Contra Costa County pet guardians every month. But why is this program so important right now? Trends by the American Animal Hospital Association published a piece about the impact of community pet food pantries — including FoodShare. Give it a read at the link below!
How to Support Pet Food Pantries – and Why it’s so Important Right Now
With food insecurity on the rise, pet food banks are working to meet increased needs to help keep pets with their families.
by Jen Reeder
At a recent pet food bank offered by the nonprofit Joybound People & Pets in Northern California, a man named Robbie profusely thanked the staff and volunteers who gave him food for his cat, Flash. He confided that he’s been living in a tent beneath a freeway, and that Flash is his only friend – and his only reason to get up every morning.
“It touched my heart that our ‘FoodShare’ program has kept them together,” said Miguel Abi-hassan, chief programs officer at Joybound People & Pets. “He knows that his pet is secure thanks to our pet food bank.”
Joybound People & Pets operates an animal shelter as well as numerous programs to help keep pets with the people who love them, from the food bank – which started in 1998 – to vaccine clinics, a sliding scale for dog training classes and free veterinary care for pets of families facing financial hardship.
The nonprofit is based in Walnut Creek, an East Bay city in Contra Costa County – where over 108,000 residents receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, previously called food stamps. Though SNAP benefits can’t be used to buy pet food, he noted the recent disruption to SNAP due to the government shutdown led to a higher demand for all assistance services offered by Joybound as families suddenly had less money.
So, the Joybound team is working to find ways to meet that need to help keep pets with their families… (Read more)
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