The Animal Food Bank is hoping to raise $2,000 through their Sponsor a Heart fundraiser taking place at Total Pet on Harvey Avenue and Bosley’s in Okanagan Lake Mall until Feb. 14.
All funds raised will go towards supporting pets in the Central Okanagan, as the Animal Food Bank is receiving a record number of requests and running low on wet cat food.
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With a donation of any size, participants will receive a paper heart where they can write the name of their beloved pet and have it displayed at the store.
“It’s about showing some love to your pet for Valentine’s Day, and whatever you can donate is all we ask for,” explains Jan Mansoor, the Kelowna branch manager of the Animal Food Bank.
In 2022, the Animal Food Bank received an average of 65 requests per month, but over 100 requests were made in January 2023.
Photo ContributedSponsor a Heart
The Animal Food Bank supports pets in the local community by providing them with food and covering the costs of rehoming animals to avoid euthanasia.
“If we can do something to make someone’s life better so they don’t have to give up their dog or cat or worry about how they’re going to feed them, that’s our main goal,” Mansoor explains. “Our mantra is to keep pets with their families.”
A survey conducted by the Animal Food Bank found that 66% of clients polled said they no longer have to choose between feeding themselves or their pets, and 56% said they haven’t had to surrender their pet because of the Animal Food Bank.
“That’s staggering and demonstrates the importance of organizations like ours intervening with help before a client has to surrender a beloved pet,” says Nicole Frey, the founder of the Animal Food Bank.
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The Animal Food Bank also works with outreach workers to provide food for pets living on the street, in addition to providing supplies such as food crates, beds, treats, collars and litter to pet owners who have been evacuated due to fires and floods.
“Everything we do is because of our community and the lovely people in it who have great hearts and donate food to us so we can help those in need within our own community," Mansoor explains.
The Animal Food Bank is solely operated on donations and volunteers, with no support from the government.
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Donations made to the Sponsor a Heart fundraiser will stay in-store as a credit to purchase pet food and emergency supplies for animals in need.
For information about how to volunteer for the Animal Food Bank, visit AnimalFoodBank.org.
