Huson Valley Pet Food Pantry Receives Grant from ASPCA

The Hudson Valley Pet Food Pantry today held a check-presentation ceremony to announce the receipt of a $5,000 grant from the ASPCA ® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ®) which will enable the pantry to accept new clients, while continuing to provide much-needed pet food to more than 220 current clients. “The Hudson Valley Pet Food Pantry is humbled by this generous gift from the ASPCA, especially during these difficult economic times,” said Susan Katz, president and founder of the Hudson Valley Pet Food Pantry. “Pet owners in the Hudson Valley are still struggling to make ends meet, and this grant will allow us to help more families who no longer have to choose between feeding themselves and feeding their four-legged family members. The simple act of providing a bag of pet food can be a life-saving effort, keeping the animals in their homes and preventing them from entering the shelter system.” “The ASPCA is proud to support the mission of the Hudson Valley Pet Food Pantry with this grant,” said Michael Barrett, vice president of grants management at the ASPCA. “Their efforts relieve the distress that pet owners feel when they cannot provide basic nutrition for their pet, and it’s our hope that these funds will allow the pantry to continue and expand its work.” “I learned about Hudson Valley Pet Food Pantry after it had been operating for only a few months, and I was immediately impressed with how organized, efficient and dedicated the volunteers are,” added Jill Van Tuyl, ASPCA community initiatives director for New York. “They are completely committed to keeping pets in their homes and out of shelters. For an all-volunteer agency, it is inspiring to see what a group of concerned citizens has accomplished in such a short amount of time.” The all-volunteer Hudson Valley Pet Food Pantry currently serves more than 220 families and individuals each month. As 2012 ended, funding constraints forced the pantry to suspend accepting new applicants, and only recently has it been able to add additional clients. The pantry has helped prevent an estimated 1,100 animals from being surrendered to shelters or abandoned since its inception two years ago, while distributing an estimated 32,000 pounds of pet food at no charge to recipients. It recently moved to a larger space in White Plains in response to the growing need for its services. The pantry continues to receive new requests for services directly from individuals and through referrals from government and other social service agencies. Clients include veterans with service animals, senior citizens on fixed incomes, the temporary or long-term unemployed, and individuals with disabilities. Potential clients must meet certain financial criteria, similar to those needed to qualify for government social services. For more about the Pantry, including an application for services and information about volunteering or donating, visit their website at: www.hvpetfoodpantry.org or call (914) 907-3487 or (914) 907-3433. The Hudson Valley Pet Food Pantry is an IRS-approved 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.