PetSmart Charities Steps Up to Feed Pets of Food-Insecure Families
PetSmart Charities, a leading funder of animal welfare causes, is stepping up to support pet parents facing food insecurity. With over 50 million Americans turning to food banks for assistance, the organization is ensuring that families can stay together by providing essential pet food supplies.
PetSmart Charities partners with Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger-relief organization. They provide quarterly deliveries of pet food to Feeding America's partner food banks, ensuring a steady supply year-round. Erika Thiem, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Feeding America, oversees this critical collaboration.
On Pet Hunger Awareness Day (September 30), PetSmart Charities hosts local events at Feeding America partner food banks. Pet parents can pick up food for their cats and dogs at these events. This year, four such events are scheduled nationwide. The need is evident, with more than one in five Meals on Wheels America clients reporting they've gone without food to feed their pets.
Since 2017, PetSmart Charities has donated nearly 70 million pounds of pet food to Feeding America. The organization estimates that 30 million pets in the U.S. live in homes with people managing food insecurity. Sixty-three percent of Feeding America food bank representatives report struggling to meet the demand for pet food. To further support senior pet owners, PetSmart Charities also partners with Meals on Wheels America, delivering 15 million pet meals nationwide.
PetSmart Charities' commitment to supporting pet parents in need is clear. Through partnerships with Feeding America and Meals on Wheels America, they ensure that pets and their owners can stay together and thrive, even in challenging times.
