Chicago Communities in Need Receive Help for Pets
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The Anti-Cruelty Society will deliver dry cat and dog food to 9th Ward Alderman Anthony Beale’s Community Service Office to serve the Roseland and Pullman neighborhoods, as well as to Breakthrough Urban Ministries in East Garfield Park.
The food delivery complements The Anti-Cruelty Society’s Friends Who Care Program that provides pet food for people in need so they are able to keep their pets. With the expansion of the program due to COVID-19, the Society has provided more than 350,000 pet meals since April 2020. The program is funded by PetSmart Charities and Hill’s Pet Nutrition, as well as a number of private individuals.
“The Anti-Cruelty-Society established this program to provide immediate support to people without direct access to pet food. Our goal is to preserve families by keeping pets and people together,” says Lydia Krupinski, Anti-Cruelty Society’s Chief Program Officer. “We will work with aldermen and community partners like Breakthrough to bring these provisions directly to the communities in most need.”
Hundreds of pounds of pet food will be loaded onto a truck at The Anti-Cruelty Society, 157 W. Grand Avenue in Chicago, on June 10 from 8 to 9 a.m. At 10 a.m. Society staff will drop off food for distribution in the 9th Ward at 34 E. 112th Place in Chicago. Pet food will be delivered to Breakthrough’s Fresh Market food pantry in Chicago at 3334 W. Carroll Avenue at noon.
“We are delighted to partner with The Anti-Cruelty Society to provide food for the pets of 9th Ward residents,” said 9th Ward Alderman Anthony Beale. “Too often financial challenges force people to give up their pets. Thanks to The Anti-Cruelty Society’s outreach, pet owners in the 9th Ward are getting help keeping their cats and dogs in their homes and out of shelters during this unprecedented crisis,” added Alderman Beale.
Pets are part of the family, so this program is indeed an essential service.