It started with the idea and desire to help! Torch Club members of Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County’s Portage Club came up with a community service idea to help not only families in need, but the treasured pets of such families. Partnering with Best Buddies Pet Pantry, Portage Club’s Torch Club members helped with a pet food drive from April 1 through May 13th. Club members diligently collected cat and dog food and treats over this one-month time. Countless donations were received totaling 1,545 pounds of food and 100 pounds of pet treats.
To help collect pet food, the Portage Boys & Girls Club hosted a dance that benefitted the Best Buddy Pet Pantry and a generous $150 give was received from a former Boys & Girls Clubs’ employee. After food was collected, Torch Club members then spent time packaging food into gallon-sized bags at the Club. Established in January 2011, Best Buddies Pet Pantry serves approximately 1,200 pets monthly. Meeting every fourth Friday of each month, the pantry benefits the family pets of Portage, Valparaiso, South Haven, and residents of surrounding communities.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County:
Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County has been opening doors to GREAT FUTURES for Porter County’s youth since 1971. Clubs are open after school and provide a great place for youth in grades K-12 to meet friends and have fun while in a safe, supervised environment. Clubs are also open during holidays and in the summer. Annual membership is only $35.00. Financial assistance is available to those who qualify. For information on membership, volunteer opportunities, or to make a tax deductible donation to Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County, please contact your local Club, call (219) 464-7282 or visit www.bgcpoco.org. Great Futures Start HERE.
About Best Buddies Pet Pantry:
Best Buddies Pet Pantry is an all-volunteer 501c3 non-profit that provides pet food assistance to families in need in NW Indiana and Illinois. The pantry's mission is to help reduce the number of family pets surrendered to animal shelters due to lack of food and keep families and pets together during financial hardship. The mobile pet food bank provides pet food assistance to an estimated 1200 family pets monthly at 14 distribution sites in Porter, Lake, LaPorte Counties IN and part of Cook and Will Counties IL. 3 distribution sites are in Porter County: Duneland Community Center, The Church of Jesus Christ Food Pantry and Hebron Country Food Pantry. Pet food is available the 4th Friday of the month from 5-7pm at The Church of Jesus Christ Food Pantry, 791 Juniper Road, Valparaiso (South Haven community) The pantry also provides information for low-cost vaccinations and spay and neuter services. For info about Best Buddies Pet Pantry visit www.bestbuddiespetpantry.org and Facebook page.