When times are tough, you can lean on your pets to help you get through anything.

For some families, tough times can mean having to choose between buying pet food and being able to afford necessities like rent or medication. In times of temporary financial strain, many pet parents have no choice but to give up their pet when they need them most.

Dogs and cats should not lose their homes because of financial hardship. If you feel the same way, consider hosting a pet food drive to help keep pets and their families together.

In honor of Holiday Food Drive for Needy Animals Day, learn how food drives and food banks for pets work and how you can support pets in need near you.
 

How Do Food Drives for Pets Work?

Food drives for pets work similarly to those organized for humans. Businesses, schools, libraries, and organizations set up bins in which you can drop off your donations during the food drive. Then, the donations are transported to a local pet food bank, which may be located within an animal shelter or humane society.

Pet parents in need can receive food and other necessities when they visit the pet food bank at the animal shelter, or may be eligible for free pet food deliveries if they do not have access to transportation.
 

What Kind of Donations Do Pet Food Drives Accept?

During a pet food drive, the goal is generally to collect unopened, unexpired canned and dry dog and cat food. The partnering organization may supply a list of requested products, which may include specific brands or formulas.

While your local organization may accept any brand, and you’re likely welcome to donate unneeded pet products you may have in your home, make sure to check for a shelter wishlist before shopping for donations.

Some food drives are just for food, while others also accept non-food pet supplies. Since many pet food banks are run by animal shelters, they are likely always in need of all kinds of pet products and supplies. Supplies like leashes, collars, sweaters, and winter coats for dogs, cat litter, toys, treats, cleaning supplies, puppy pads, and more can also be donated directly to the shelter at any time.

Monetary donations are always welcome. Animal rescue organizations can often purchase food in bulk, so your dollar will go further if you donate funds instead of shopping for food to donate.
 

How To Host A Pet Food Drive

Hosting a pet food drive at your workplace, business, school, or other organization is a great way to not only collect donations, but also raise awareness for your local animal shelter or humane society.

First, choose a local pet food bank. Your local animal shelter is likely to have a food bank program. You can contact the organization or visit their website to find out what kind of pet food they accept as donations.

Then, you’ll need to set a timeframe. A pet food drive can be a one-day event, possibly as part of a larger event like a festival, sports game, 5K race, or county fair, or you can set up a site to accept donations for several weeks.

Motivate your community members to help out with an ambitious goal. For example, if you’re hosting a pet food drive for a business, consider donating $1 to the animal shelter for every pound of food donated. For a classroom, you could throw a pizza party if your students can fill a bin with donations.

Set up a donation site that’s easily accessible to the public. Make it bright and colorful - you can even encourage your community to help decorate.

You’ll need a large bin for collecting food donations. You can also set up a container for cash donations. Make sure the containers are clearly labeled with information about what kind of donations are needed and where the donations will be taken.

Spread the word about your pet food drive with signs and flyers. Look for community events pages online and make sure to include all of the details in your post - dates and times during which donations are accepted, and types of donations requested by the pet food bank.

At the end of the pet food drive, you’ll need to transport the donations to the pet food bank. Some have volunteers that can pick up the donations, or you can deliver the goods during the organization’s business hours.