One of our lesser-known ministries is feeding family pets. With every visit, a client gets a bag of food for their cat or dog. Like we do with sugar, flour and cornmeal, we buy large bulk bags and break them down into smaller portions for distribution. I’m sometimes asked why I devote budget to the purchase of pet food when there are so many other pressing needs.
We do this because a pet can be a very calming and stabilizing presence in a household facing trauma. They can be the only source of comfort and companionship for our older or disabled clients who live alone.
Without our assistance, most of our clients would have to turn their pet over to a shelter. What we spend on pet food is an investment in the mental and spiritual health of each recipient household. The bonds are very strong.
I recall one older woman who could not find a room in her budget that accepted her beloved cat. She decided she would rather be homeless than give up her cat. She felt that cat was the last friend she had in the world, and they could not be parted. She is not the only client I’ve encountered who made that choice.
I’ve told Patty, the volunteer who champions this program that I will do everything I can to fund it. The LCM has been feeding the fur people for decades. We’ve helped to keep a lot of cats and dogs with their families.
We are adding new client households at an average of 48 households per month. I don’t know when this will slow down because I don’t know how much longer the impact of program cuts will ripple to this degree.
We really need help feeding the fur people right now. If you are an animal lover and can donate a bag of cat or dog food, we would be most grateful – So would the cats and dogs and their human companions. And so would Patty.
-Jackie
