Help support the Animal Food Bank
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This article was published 28/07/2021 (677 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
During times of financial stress, it can become difficult for some to adequately provide for their beloved family pets.
The Animal Food Bank is a registered non-profit organization that aims to help low-income families in order to prevent their animals from having to go into a shelter or pet rescue.
Nicole Wilks, founder of the Animal Food Bank Foundation, was born and raised in Transcona. She started the foundation in 2019 while living in Kelowna and launched the program in Winnipeg in February 2020.
According to Nicole, the Animal Food Bank supplies food to over 300 cats and 100 dogs per month. Requests for support are usually filled in the order they are received, with over 3,000 pounds of food given to pets each month.
The Animal Food Bank is currently in desperate need of food, especially for cats. Treats and pet supplies such as leashes, beds and toys are also welcome.
The Pet Valu store located at 1750 Plessis Rd. is the only drop-off location for the Animal Food Bank in Transcona. Lorraine, the store owner, says she is proud to be able to support the program and assist pets in need.
On March 31, the Animal Food Bank launched the AFB Pet Club, offering a monthly membership for fee of $4.99. All revenue generated from the membership fees goes directly to the operation of the foundation. For the price of the membership, AFB Pet Club provides its members with access to exclusive deals, coupons and products.
In addition to becoming a Pet Club member or donating directly on the website, there are a number of other ways in which to support the Animal Food Bank.
Those wanting to help can either stop by Pet Valu or call the store and purchase a gift card for the food bank to use. People can also purchase food and leave it in the donation bin at the store. Any new or partially used bag that you may have at home can also be dropped off directly at the store.
The Animal Food Bank primarily provides support to cats and dogs, but it also assists other pets, such as turtles, bunnies, hamsters and fish.
Nicole also wanted to share that the foundation offers more to families than simply assisting them with food. The Animal Food Bank also provides pet owners with access to help with interview skills, resume writing, pet nutrition and animal first aid, as the goal of the program is to one day eliminate the need for such a food bank.
For more information on the Animal Food Bank please refer to animalfoodbank.org
Cindy Murdoch is a community correspondent for Transcona. She can be contacted at reflections8@shaw.ca
Cindy Murdoch
Transcona community correspondent
Cindy Murdoch is a community correspondent for Transcona. She can be contacted at reflections8@shaw.ca