HERMITAGE, Pa. – Tails of Hope and the Mercer County Food Bank are now official pet food donation sites for Feeding Pets of the Homeless.
Donations of pet food and supplies can be dropped off at Tails of Hope, 2450 Hoezle Road, Hermitage, or at the Mercer County Food Bank, 109 S. Sharpsville Ave., Suite A, Sharon, during business hours. Hermitage Petco will also collect canned dog and cat food at checkout through December to support the partnership.
Feeding Pets of the Homeless is the first national nonprofit organization dedicated to providing pet food for the food insecure and emergency veterinary care for pets that belong to people who are homeless. The organization works with partners nationwide to collect donations and distribute essential supplies to help keep pets healthy and with their families.
“Tails of Hope believes feeding your pets and your family should not be an ‘or,’” said Soraya Hejazi, Tails of Hope executive director. “We are proud to expand our community service to local residents by being a pet food collection site through a partnership with Feeding Pets of the Homeless and strengthening our community ties through cooperation with the local Mercer County Food Bank as a pet food distributor. Together we will build a more resilient community, help to keep pets with their families and achieve a greater collective impact.”
Rebecca Page, Mercer County Food Bank executive director, said the organization is thrilled to expand its work to feed not only its neighbors but also their pets.
“Partnering with Feeding Pets of the Homeless as a collection site alongside Tails of Hope allows the food bank to gather much-needed pet food donations, which we will distribute alongside our regular food programs,” she said. “Together, we can support families and their pets, ensuring no one goes hungry. This partnership is especially meaningful to us, as so many neighbors have shared how they have had to choose between feeding themselves or their pets, and food should never be an impossible choice. This is one more way we can help make that choice easier.”
According to Genevieve Frederick, founder and president of Feeding Pets of the Homeless, the organization has provided more than $6.8 million in emergency veterinary care and assisted over 32,000 pets in need since its founding. More than 2.6 million pounds of pet food have been collected and distributed nationwide through donation sites.
“Unfortunately for those with pets, homelessness becomes even more difficult, forcing them to choose between their pet and a roof over their head,” Frederick said. “It is estimated that 1 in 4 people experiencing homelessness have a pet.”
For more information on how to become a donation site or contribute, visit PetsOfTheHomeless.org or call 775 841 7463.