USPS Publication Number 16300
T h i s C om mu n it y Ne w s p a p e r i s a p u bl i c a t ion of E s c a m b i a-S a nt a Ro s a B a r A s s o c i a t ion
Se r v i ng t he Fi r st Jud icia l Ci rcu it Section A, Page 1
Vol. 21, No. 30
V isit T he S ummation W eekly O nline : SummationWeekly.com
MEALS ON WHEELS… FOR PETS? by Lauren Clark Are you a cat person or a dog person? Do you support seniors or do you support pets? I am a dog person to the core but that hasn’t stopped me from also becoming the porch cat lady of my cul-de-sac. Likewise, supporting seniors and pets does not have to be mutually exclusive—something organizations like 400 Paws and A HOPE remind us of. Many homebound seniors reached out to COA to help rely on their pets to keep them our seniors feed their pets. company and fill their homes 400 Paws is a nonprofit with love in order to combat organization in Escambia isolation. This may become County with a pet food pantry a dilemma for food-insecure that grants funds to local pet seniors. Meals on Wheels groups. The Mathis family at America reported that many 400 Paws noticed that there seniors were sharing their weren’t many seniors coming meals with their pets- an to their monthly community unhealthy diet for the clients pantry days and reached out and their companions. Coun- to COA staff to learn how cil on Aging identified Meals they could help homebound on Wheels clients locally seniors. With staff looking for t h a t we r e ways to serve sacrif icing our client’s That is their other necespets, this was sary areas of family; they a perfectly their budgets shouldn’t have to timed match! to feed their make a decision 4 0 0 Paw s best friends. between them provides food Wi t h i n a assistance eating or feeding month of to 18 pets their pets.” each other, and makes pet organizasure that 16 tions 400 Paws in Escambia seniors can eat up knowing County and A HOPE in Santa there are no empty bellies Rosa County independently under the table.
July 28, 2021
Meals on Wheels for Pets In 2020
In Santa Rosa County, A HOPE brings in some friends to fill our furry friends’ bowls. In a similar fashion to 400 Paws, A HOPE looked around their community pantry days and saw a younger crowd. With a few bags of food 1384 pounds of leftover one month, they food filled with called Council on Aging to the best nutrients see how they could get it to fueling stinky kisses a few seniors. Within a few and snuggles weeks, A HOPE had put together a dozen packages of food, toys, treats, and even a few doggy dresses for our precious friends— bags personally addressed to each pet and decorated 45 seniors able by little hands. to love their best This delivery sparked friends back a wait list of volunteers while supporting to sponsor the pets each their own needs month. Council on Aging spoke with A HOPE staff about passionate surge of supporters. “These donors all feel the same way we do about these seniors and their pets”, Paige Cary said. “That is their family; they 138 dogs and shouldn’t have to make cats wagging a decision between them and purring with eating or feeding their pets.” full bellies A full year’s calendar quickly filled up with various groups taking each month charge of the Bowl Filler and having their clients, program at A HOPE. “I employees, etc. pick a pet to enjoy the collaborating and sponsor and spoil through the community working the Bowl Fillers program. together to help know that Groups ranged from civic we are serving our seniors groups, churches, the YMCA, and our animals,” Posey said. and even a yoga studio! Laura “I drop the food off knowing Posey, outreach coordinator it’s going into homes where at A HOPE, recently took people really need it.”
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Her first month was a challenge, as the group signed up to sponsor that month had unexpected circumstances and had to pull out last minute. Within 30 minutes of this news, volunteers were there with pet food! “It touches your heart when you see volunteers to jump in so quickly to meet a need that comes up so abruptly like that,” Posey said. “When there is a need so close to people’s hearts they just jump in and form a community through their donation.” There are many great needs in our community. It can be overwhelming to decide who and where you want to help. Friends like 400 Paws and A HOPE show us that you don’t have to decide—you can connect your two favorite causes and may just find a paw-fect solution for both. You can be a cat AND dog person while you change the lives of seniors AND their pets!
Interested in receiving pet food assistance from a pantry in your county? 400 Paws, 1111 Creighton Road (Escambia residents): Third and fourth Saturday each month from 1–3 pm at A HOPE, 5755 Washington Street in Milton: Second Sunday each month 1–3 pm at the Paw Pad
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