BSRI OPENS NEW PET FOOD BANK

By Casey Poplaski Aging Resources Specialist

Thanks to generous donations from Heidi’s Hope for Homeless Animals, a local non-profit organization, Brunswick Senior Resources is now providing pet food to Brunswick County seniors in need.

As America struggles through the post-pandemic recession, older adults are being hit hard. Climbing prices make the finances of people on fixed incomes increasingly precarious. This increase in daily living expenses forces seniors to find ways to cut back wherever they can, and that often means cutting back on their food bill. Many will go hungry before they let their pet go hungry.

Food for Fido

BSRI Aging Resource Specialist Sandy Porcaro was afraid seniors would find themselves sharing what food they have with their pets, or cutting their food bill to an unsafe extreme so they can continue to buy pet food. So Porcaro teamed up with Heidi’s Hope to open the Pet Food Pantry at all BSRI locations throughout the county.

“Each month one of our awesome BSRI volunteers picks up pet supplies from Heidi’s distribution site and transports the supplies back to the Leland Senior Center,” Porcaro says. “Another volunteer organizes, boxes up, labels, and distributes the supplies to food pantry participants. We hope this pet food allows extra money to remain in the senior’s pocket for necessities.”

To Help or To Get Help

To inquire about the BSRI Food Pantry, contact BSRI at 910-754-2300. If you would like to make a donation to Heidi’s Hope for Homeless Animals Pet Food Bank, go to heidishopeforhomelessanimals.com, or call Wilmington Woof Gang Bakery at 910-256-5557 to arrange for donation drop offs. Carriers, collars, crates, litter, litter boxes, leashes, treats and toys are also needed.