As we all know, pets are important family members. And for our Immokalee families, taking care of these loved ones is a bit easier.
Thanks to a partnership with the Gulf Coast Humane Society (GCHS) in Ft. Myers, RCMA families can receive donated dog and cat food plus pet toys.
“People have been very grateful,” says Diana Cisneros, one of our Family Support Workers, who helps pick up and distribute the donations.
GCHS
started a Pet Food 4 Furever Families program when the pandemic began, to help pet owners who were facing economic challenges keep their pets. Having a pet around at this stressful time was comforting, especially as people spent more time at home.
They invited the public to make a cash donation online or donate canned and dry food by dropping it off or having it delivered.
“Amazon trucks were coming three to four times a day,” says Brian Wierima, Community Relations Coordinator with the society. “It was overwhelming support.”
GCHS handed out more than 29 tons of pet food from April 2020 to the beginning of January 2022.
Though they initially gave out pet supplies at other emergency distribution events several times a week, they now provide monthly donations to our families and at five other locations around Ft. Myers and Lehigh Acres.
We are grateful to Jennifer Galloway, former society Executive Director, who initiated the Pet Food 4 Furever Families program, as well as the humane society and all of its supporters.
To support the program, donations of pet food and one-gallon storage bags can be dropped off or ordered/delivered from Amazon, Chewy.com or any delivery service to: 2010 Arcadia Street, Fort Myers, FL 33916. Learn more at gulfcoasthumanesociety.org
