Paws2Help Pet Pantry Outreach, founded in Casper, Wyoming, will reach its first
milestone with the distribution of approximately 930 pounds of dog and cat food
to citizens in need within the community on Saturday, March 2, 2013, commencing
with Natrona County Meals on Wheels clients. The Pet Pantry Outreach will hold
its official launch and reception at 1:00 p.m. hosted by Greiner
Buick/GMA/Cadillac at 6302 East
2nd Street, Casper, WY 82609.
The Keynote Speaker, City of Casper Mayor Kenyne Schlager,
will be followed by guest speakers from Paws2Help Foundation, Paws2Help Pet
Pantry Outreach, Wyoming Food Bank of the Rockies, Altitude Veterinary
Hospital and Natrona
County Meals on Wheels.
It was after the
tremendous outpouring of donated pet food for displaced pets of the Sheepherder
Hill Fire in October 2012 that Paws2Help Foundation Founder & President
Lisa Craft identified a lack of an in-place organization providing the fundamentals
helping feed pets in crisis in Wyoming.
That is when Craft came up with idea of
forming Paws2Help Pet Pantry Outreach, an organization that provides donated
pet food to pet owners served by Meals on Wheels or those seeking assistance through
the Wyoming Food Bank of the Rockies who are burdened by tough economic times,
a health crisis or some other kind of emergency. Pet
Pantry Outreach's mission is to help avoid the surrender of these
animals to already overcrowded shelters, prevent them from being set loose to
fend for themselves, or taken for euthanasia. Our
purpose is to help pet owners keep their beloved pets, as pets are usually
viewed as part of the family and often offer emotional support, which is
essential to a person's well being. Our mission also addresses the very
real problem of Meals on Wheels recipients saving and feeding a portion of
their meals to their beloved pets, because of financial stress or the inability
to shop for pet food. We believe that
this program will provide a quality pet food diet for the animals and keep the
human food where it should be—with the humans who are owned by their beloved
pets.
A Message From The Paws2Help Foundation President
Lisa Craft
Paws2Help Foundation welcomes you on behalf of
Pet Pantry Outreach as we are especially
proud of the ground breaking efforts that this
special program is helping many families cope with enormously difficult times.
Ensuring that our community's companion animals never go hungry is one of the
most basic, and most critical, aspects of animal welfare. A person's inability
to feed their pet could be due to unexpected bills or expenses, with the
situation being temporary. By offering pet food assistance we hope to lessen
the burden of homeless pets on local animal shelters and rescue groups. We hope
families and individuals are rest assured they're able to keep their beloved
pet during their hardship.
We expect to attribute increased donations and
dispersals to increased awareness of our services by having several local food
banks voluntarily post our advertising on their premises. Paws2Help
Pet Pantry Outreach is
sponsored by Paws2Help Foundation and a collaboration by the Wyoming Food
Bank of the Rockies, Altitude
Veterinary Hospital,
and Natrona County Meals on Wheels.
The multi-organization collaboration supporting Pet
Pantry Outreach's efforts is what is most exciting - the program has the
support needed to sustain itself in the future as well as to expand throughout Wyoming. Towards the
goal of expanding throughout Wyoming
the Pet Pantry Outreach plans to expand its advertising efforts to increase
services to the community.
Financial donations are essential for us to continue
to carry out our mission. We are one of a relatively small number of pet food
assistance programs throughout the US and have seen the effects of the
importance of our mission on the local community. If you are interested in
helping the Pet Pantry Outreach or would like more information, please see the
Pet Pantry Outreach’s website at paws2helpwy.org or contact the Program
Coordinator, Melissa Fenster.
Thank you,
Lisa Craft, President, Paws2Help Foundation