Area Schools Raise Nearly Half-a-Ton of Pet Food For Pet Pantries

PP sspp (400 x 300)From March 18th through March 22nd several area schools collected a total of 925 pounds of pet food and treats in Pet Pantries’ Second Annual School Drive. Schools from Talbot County — Easton Elementary (Moton and Dobson), St. Michaels Elementary, and Saints Peter and Paul – joined first-time participant Hurlock Elementary of Dorchester County in raising the record amount of food that will help stock the pantries of local Humane groups in Caroline, Dorchester, and Talbot Counties.

“WOW was the single word heard by all from everyone,” said Pet Pantries’ President Barbara Mulready. “We topped expectations, and we want to give a special thanks to all of those students whose help and dedication made this our most successful drive to date. How do we say ‘thank you’ from the animals?”

Thanks to the students’ efforts, pet food and treats were delivered to Humane organizations who had turned away people because those organizations were completely out of food. The drive kicked off when notes were sent home with students explaining the need for the pet food drive. A teacher-coordinator at each of the participating schools worked with Pet Pantries to coordinate the schools’ efforts. Posters were put up throughout the participating schools, and bins were placed in classrooms and school lobby areas. All students had the opportunity to be involved by collecting and donating any type of pet food or treats.

As great as the results of this drive were – and as positively as they affected the local Humane organizations – Mulready notes that food does not last long in the pet pantries because there are so many people with need. An ongoing effort is needed to keep the pantries stocked.

“The three Humanes that we help — Caroline, Dorchester, and Talbot — give anywhere from 200 to more than 300 pounds of food from their public pantry every week,” she explained. “One Humane organization distributed 18,000 pounds (that is NINE TONS!) from their public food pantry in 2012.”

Other News From Pet Pantries: Volunteers will be out in full force at the upcoming Oxford Day Parade on April 27. Pet Pantries will also have a table of fabulous items to raffle off on Oxford Day. See the Pet Pantries’ Web site for details: www.petpantries.org.

Visit the Pet Pantries’ Web site at www.petpantries.org to volunteer, make a donation of pet food or money, host a pet food drive, and keep up with the latest news. Make a “Friend” of us on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/petpantries).

About Pet Pantries, Inc.: Pet Pantries was founded in 2011 by Easton residents and community activists Barbara Mulready and Mary Kramer in response to an article that sought food for a local animal shelter’s pet food pantry. Pet Pantries, Inc., is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization. Its 501(c)3 status is pending – all contributions are fully tax deductible to the limit allowed by law.

In photo: Ben Gardner, Jennifer Douglas, Natalie Prochaska, Katie Schisler, Maddie Marciniak and Jake Conlon of Saints Peter and Paul Middle School’s Student Council organized food drive which resulted in over 7oo pounds collected.