Since pets are usually considered part of the family, they shouldn’t be forgotten when the holidays come around.
Cause 4Paws Gary, Inc., a non-profit organization, recently offered a drive-thru Pet Food Pantry to address that issue for low-income families.
“Food insecurity affects the family pet as well,” said Michelle Robinson, executive director of the organization. “We are doing our part to help prevent owner surrender by the vulnerable population.”
A recent giveaway at the Beacon Light Church in Gary found 165 registered families waiting in line to participate.
Second in line was Jacquelyne Stewart of Gary. “We have visited the pantry before and received an email about this one,” she said, as volunteers filled her trunk with large bags of pet food. “This (pantry) is such a good thing for those needing it in our community.”
Gary resident Iverson Jenkins agreed, adding, “This event shows that the organizers not only care for the people in the community, but their pets as well.”
Dog food, cat food and cat litter were distributed.
Robinson is a pet groomer with a mobile service, and while she was out on an appointment, she saw the need to develop help for those facing the challenge of adequately feeding their pets when income is low.
“I met Mr. Jimmy — an elderly Army veteran, living alone except for his many beloved cats,” she said. “I discovered that, despite his own health needs, he would sacrifice his medication just to afford food for his cats.”
His story opened her eyes as she realized Mr. Jimmy wasn’t an exception.
“So many seniors and low-income pet owners quietly struggle, she added, “They put their pets’ well-being before their own and fear judgment or even losing their animals if they ask for help.”
When the pantry first started in 2017, 81 registered families came for help.
“But everything changed during the pandemic,” Robinson added. “As financial hardships hit our community hard, demand for our services skyrocketed.”
During the pandemic, the Gary Pet Food Pantry saw the number of participants double, according to the founder. Another increase was shown again with the current government shutdown.
Start-up costs for the pantry were covered by a small grant and the non-profit has seen much success in this endeavor.
Cause 4Paws Gary’s pet food pantry was selected to participate in the Rescue Packs Bowls of Hope initiative to help families affected by the government shutdown as well as the halt of SNAP benefits.
Items from the Greater Good Charity’s national organization count for 90 percent of the stock. The balance comes from private donations, including wish lists from Amazon, Chewy.com and Petco.
The pantry currently operates from March through December each year, manned by solely by volunteers.
Robinson’s current goal is to secure a 1,500 square-foot warehouse space, something she says would be a game-changer for the future of Cause 4Paws Gary.
“With a dedicated facility, we could store supplies in one safe, central location, drastically reduce the need for constant moving, and finally offer our pantry services year-round,” she said.
“Donations directly cover crucial needs, such as truck rentals to transport food and supplies, and storage space.”
Families who register for the Pet Food Pantry can receive pet supplies for 3 to 6 months.
It was developed as a temporary support to help pet owners offset costs from unexpected reduction in income, household and/or medical bills or other situations that would not allow them to feed their pet. It was not developed to assist in long term support, nor does it support adding additional animals to the family unit.
“While we are located in Gary, we have always opened our support to all Lake County residents,” Robinson said. “We know food insecurity and the need for pet supportive services are not limited to the City of Gary.”
Participants are required to show a valid driver’s license and proof of assistance is required.
Residents can register at: Cause4pawsgary.org.
Sue Ellen Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
