A Humane Society of Mid Michigan community pet food pantry will be available at the Curtis Community Center in Edmore from 3 to 6 p.m. this Friday and again Dec. 22. The pet food pantry will also be at the Meat Market in Greenville from 3 to 6 p.m. Dec. 15 and Dec. 29. — Courtesy photo
STANTON — A community pet food pantry is making the rounds in Montcalm County.
The pantry, organized by the Humane Society of Mid Michigan in Stanton, distributed 703 pounds of pet food to about 40 families at the Meat Shack in Greenville last Friday.
The pantry will be available at the Curtis Community Center in Edmore from 3 to 6 p.m. this Friday and again Dec. 22. The pantry will also return to the Meat Market in Greenville from 3 to 6 p.m. Dec. 15 and Dec. 29.
The goal of the pantry is to assist residents in need by providing supplemental food for companion animals, allowing pet owners to keep their pets despite any financial difficulties. All people accepting pet food donations need only provide the size and number of pets in their household.
Humane Society Executive Director Angela Hollinshead cited a quote from Gilda Radner as inspiration for the food pantry: “I think dogs are the most amazing creations; they give unconditional love. For me, they are the role model for being alive.”
“We owe so much to the pets in our lives every day for their unconditional love and companionship,” Hollinshead said. “When financial hardship falls upon a family, sadly many resort to rehoming their beloved pet or placing it in a shelter. As an organization, we never want to see a pet come through our doors because of this. We wanted to find a way to help keep companion animals safe in their homes with their families where they belong and one of the best ways for us to accomplish this was by providing food assistance to those in need.”
Humane Society Board Secretary Autumn DeVries said any donated brand of cat or dog food is gratefully accepted (as long as the food is not expired) at any of the pick-up locations on the scheduled days and times, or at the Humane Society at 154 Quarterline St. in Stanton from 1 to 5 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays.
“In the past, we have had citizens stop into our Humane Society and inquire about where they could help with pet food,” DeVries said. “We saw a need and figured put a way to help. Our community is very important to us, their support keeps us going and we now have another way to give back.”
Kinney Automotive in Greenville is also hosting its second annual pet food drive for the Humane Society through the end of December with the goal of filling a pickup truck with donated paper towels, bleach, laundry detergent, cat litter and Purina brand cat and dog food.
Call the Humane Society at (616) 302-8143, visit www.hsofmm.org or search for “Humane Society of Mid Michigan” on Facebook for more information.
ewaldon@staffordgroup.com
(616) 548-8276
