As Thanksgiving approaches, families everywhere are planning holiday feasts, and pets are just as eager for a full bowl. Pet food drives are taking the initiative to prevent these animals from going hungry. ​

The Lakewood Animal Safety and Welfare Advisory Board (LASWAB) and the Lakewood Community Service Center (LCSC) teamed up to host a community pet food drive Nov. 15 at Marc’s Food Plaza in City Center Park. LASWAB runs the drive to help Lakewood families who are struggling financially to keep food in their pets’ bowls.

The event has been held for about five years, beginning during the pandemic. COVID-19 left many pets without the nutrition they needed, as families struggled to afford food or leave home to get it. Juleen Russell, a member of the city’s Animal Advisory Board, has coordinated the event for the past few years.

“The pandemic started, and that’s where it came to light that there was a need for this,” Russell said. This event takes place twice a year, and this year the demand for pet food was at an all-time high. Approximately 20 million U.S. pets live in poverty, with 43% of owners reporting they have struggled to afford their pets’ needs, including food.

​The need for pet food assistance in addition to human food aid was identified at the LCSC, prompting a pet food drive in Lakewood. Russell said, “It goes to approximately 250 families through the Lakewood Community Service Center that have pets.” The center aims to collect 1,150 pounds of pet food each month to help around 250 Lakewood families facing economic hardship.

​The Lakewood Animal Safety and Welfare Advisory Board receives a variety of animal supplies, including dog food, cat food, toys, beds, blankets and treats. “Nothing prescription, but dry food and canned food are needs,” Russell said. LASWAB primarily needs animal food but also accepts other items to keep the animals happy and healthy.​

Collecting these items isn’t easy. The organization sets a date and begins advertising weeks before the event. Then, they set up their booth at Marc’s Plaza early on a weekend morning, often in cold, gloomy November weather.

After the pet food donations are collected, they are delivered to LCSC as well as local animal shelters to be distributed to pets in need in the Lakewood area.

Families can visit the center or request delivery of dog or cat food they cannot afford, in order to keep their pets with them and in their rightful homes. The process takes many helping hands to run smoothly and serve as many Lakewood families as possible.​

The food drive hasn’t always been this smooth. Before Pet Supplies Plus began contributing to the cause and helping out, LASWAB ran the booth alone, while the pet store held its own fundraiser. To make a bigger impact, the owners of Pet Supplies Plus began collaborating with the booth outside their store.

“We were noticing that [that] was running a little slower, but they were doing really well, so I just started taking everything out to them,” said Anthony Walcott, an employee at Pet Supplies Plus.

The process has worked well for the organizations, which have received a record amount of donations in recent years. This support is crucial for families struggling to keep their pets at home. Walcott said he is comforted by “knowing that they can save up a little bit because they’ve got a free bag waiting on them.”

Community support is crucial in keeping these animals fed. By stepping up, residents can help friends and family who may struggle to afford care for their pets.

Thanks to the efforts of the Lakewood Animal Safety and Welfare Advisory Board, families are able to keep their pets at home. “It gives people a chance to give back, but most importantly, it keeps these pets in their loving homes,” Russell said.

Gary Crumley, a supervisor for the Lakewood Animal Control, said, “I think it helps a lot, gets it out there that people are needing assistance and that animals are going to need assistance.” Crumley highlights the importance of getting the message out that animals also need support when their owners are struggling.

​The need for help doesn’t end after this event, but continued support ensures every animal can stay healthy, fed, and in their homes. Donations do more than fill pets’ bowls — they help families stay together and ensure pets are cared for. Even the smallest donation can make a big difference, especially when it helps a neighbor struggling to keep a pet comfortable and secure. Supporting any pet food drive can make the community a happier, more united place.