A Philadelphia non-profit organization is seeing growth in demand at its pet food pantry that has offered cost-saving help for families and their pets. Each year, Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) finds homes for thousands of animals in need. Its mission is to save Philadelphia’s homel ess and at-risk pets while serving pet owners in need. In 2020, the organization launched its pet food pantry during the early months of the COVID-19 crisis. The pantry is available to Philadelphia residents. The location on 2900 Grays Ferry Avenue operates as the main hub for PAWS’ pantry, while also serving as a spay/neuter center and wellness clinic. Allison Lamond, Senior Manager of Community Engagement at PAWS, said the pantry was meant to support pet owners who found themselves having to choose between feeding themselves or their pets. “When we first started, we were having maybe 20 to 30 requests every month. Just last month in July, we received almost 160 requests for food,” Lamond said. “I think the uptick in the number really shows us a few things. One, people are learning about it. People are learning. We are in the community all the time as much as we possibly can be.” Lamond said another factor is financial hardship. According to the Consumer Price Index, pet food and treat prices have increased by more than 30% since 2021. “Gas is really expensive, housing is expensive, groceries are expensive, and I think at the end of the day you know some people choose between getting themselves food and getting their animals food. We want to try to take that decision away from them where they don’t need to make the choice between feeding themselves or feeding their animals,” she said. Lamond said they do their best to meet the demand. The pantry is donation-based, so PAWS used social media platforms to raise awareness. The organization also partners with businesses to set up as collection sites.  To date, PAWS has distributed hundreds of thousands of pounds of pet food and litter to support over 10,000 households. Lamond said this, in turn, has hopefully eased issues of overcrowding at shelters. “We want to make sure those animals stay in their home because if they don’t, they come in the shelter. Now, you know, they’re going through our shelter system. We’re finding them a new home when we don’t need to,” she said. “I think a lot of the times people are surrendering their animals and sobbing and so devastated that they have to make that decision. Being able to help them take their pet home is possibly the greatest reward that we can get.” Michelle Green of North Philadelphia has received help from the pantry over the past few years. Green adopted two cats several years ago. One is now 14 years old, and the other is 8. “It was like a God’s gift. Like, oh my God, theyre giving us free pet food and litter. I don’t have to stress about feeding them or anything. That was a great relief for me,” Green said. “They [cats] mean everything to me. I wouldn’t know how to go without them.” One of the other challenges Lamond said they are navigating is space. “My ultimate dream, if I could pick a dream pantry, would be a place where people can walk in as though they’re having a shopping experience. Being able to have people. There is shame around having to come and around asking for help and what we want to do is take that away,” she said. “There’s nothing wrong with asking for help.” For information on the pet food pantry and how to help, click here. ...read more read less