This is actually quite urgent so please read.
During the month of April, 30 new households registered with the Dr. John P. Ruffing VMD Pet Food Pantry. We also forged a partnership with the food bistro in Homewood to provide pet food for 12 of their families. Last night, I learned that two other food bistros and a group working with homeless neighbors would like to work with us.
So, we now have 42 additional caretakers on our list for May plus the potential for more. That’s about a 50% increase. Most are pet owners, something we suspect is tied to the economy.
So we are putting out our own ‘mayday’ distress call to let you know we need help.
At the same time, we need help assembling whistle kits so we can distribute to OUTrageous Bingo and prepare for Pride events.
This is the help that has been extended to us so far
- Animal Friends will give us pet food on a regular basis if we have someone with a vehicle to collect it.
- Paws Across Pittsburgh pet food pantry has committed to ship food to us every month.
- Allegheny City Brewery has offered us space during May to assemble
- Putting together a fall fundraiser to help with sustainability
What we need now, from you
- Join us on Monday evenings during May from 4-7 to make whistle kits, talk about the state of the world. Build community a few people at a time. No pressure. Stop by for a few minutes, stay the whole time. We’ll be at Allegheny City Brewery on East Ohio St.
- Drop off supplies one of those Mondays. Dry cat food is most urgent. Dry dog food, canned both foods also welcome. No litter please.
- Please use our wishlists to contribute if you can
- If you can make a financial donation to the nonprofit
- Other useful supplies
- Paper plates and towels
- Duct tape
- Contractor bags
- Lanyards from concerts, expos, etc
- Clean whole Styrofoam coolers to make shelters (no pieces of Styrofoam, nothing stained or soiled, only coolers large enough for a cat and a half.
- Join our volunteer list
- Become a driver – monthly and one time opportunities – to deliver pet food and/or whistle kits throughout the region.
- Allegheny Valley
- Mon Valley
- East End/Burbs
- Animal Friends – as needed
- OUTrageous Bingo – East End – one time
- Stop by to pick up whistle kits for your household, friends, neighbors, etc.
