Pet Food Collection A Success

The results are in, and AARP Colorado, along with SAGE of the Rockies and P.A.W.S. (Pets Are Wonderful Support), collected thousands of pounds of pet food for the best friends of people who are at risk of going without in order to feed their pets.

AARP Colorado and partners organized the pet food and supply drive that ran for two months at the end of 2011. The supplies were collected by The GLBT Center. People in need were able to pick up supplies. Volunteers delivered to those who were unable to leave their homes due to illness or disabilities.

More than $2,000 pounds of food was collected and donations totaling $1,500 were received. One woman, who works for a medical clinic brought three car-loads of supplies and a number of people wrote checks to the P.A.W.S. program.

“That’s pretty good considering it was our first pet supply drive,” said Jeremiah Mora, AARP program specialist, who managed AARP’s contributions to the effort. “By supporting P.A.W.S., people are able to help seniors and people with disabilities by supporting their companion animals. It’s a wonderful way to give back and help others.”

The effort was so successful that the partners plan to do it again next year and even add a second food drive, said Richard Reynolds, executive director of P.A.W.S.

“It was a great success,” he said. “I can see us doing it twice a year. It was a lot of fun.”

For more information, please call 720-295-1PET or visit www.PAWSColorado.org.