Join a tradition of kindness at the Holiday Pet Food Drive & help seniors feed their pets

A Tradition Of Kindness At Alum Creek Dog Park - Local families helping seniors feed their pets This year marks the 16th anniversary of the Holiday Pet Food Drive at the Alum Creek Dog Park, a small event that has grown into a community ritual. It started with a simple idea: help seniors keep the pets they love. Today, it draws families, neighborhood groups, and even entire workplaces who want to do some good before the holidays. Why Pet Food Matters More Than You Might Expect For many older adults, a pet isn’t just company. It’s often the only steady presence in the house. Pets reduce depression and loneliness, and research shows that having an animal can actually predict longer survival. They give people something to care for, a reason to get outside, and a connection to others. Yet millions of seniors live below the poverty line. When money gets tight, some skip meals or put off medical care to make sure their pets eat. The local charities who receive donations—SourcePoint Meals on Wheels of Delaware County and Hospets of Union County—see this firsthand. A few of their recent stories make the point clear: • One woman delayed getting dentures because she was buying cat food and litter instead. After receiving help for a couple of years, she was finally able to get the dental work she needed. • Another had been feeding her cat dry dog food because she didn’t realize cats require different nutrients. She now receives cat food every month. • Volunteers say the need has grown noticeably this year. Meals on Wheels drivers talk about the pets they meet on their routes. Dogs recognize the sound of the van arriving. Drivers carry small treat packets so they can greet both the client and the pet at the door. It builds trust—and often a friendship. Families, Kids, and Creative Giving The heart of the drive isn’t just what gets donated, but how it happens. Parents bring their children to the store and let them choose the pet food themselves. Kids proudly place “their” bag or can into the Meals on Wheels van at the dog park drop-off. Some families donate in place of exchanging gifts. One young man once collected $20 from everyone in his cross-fit class and bought two dozen bags of dog food. Neighbors team up. Workplaces get involved. These small, personal gestures add up to real help for people who depend on their animals. When and How to Give Donations can be dropped off in person on: Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7 11:00 AM–4:00 PM Alum Creek State Park Dog Park 3992 Hollenback Road, Lewis Center, 43035 Online donations are welcome anytime: • SourcePoint: www.mysourcepoint.org → Meals on Wheels → “Just for Paws” • Hospets: www.hospets.org → “How to Help” What’s Needed Most • Large bags of dog or cat food (repackaged into smaller bags for delivery) • Small biscuit-type dog treats • Canned cat food • Kitty litter

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