For families – and pets – in need, the Prince William SPCA is here to help, with their Pet Food Pantry.
Located in the Manassas City Animal Adoption Center at 10039 Dean Drive in Manassas, the Pet Food Pantry is the only one of it’s kind in Prince William County, and the surrounding area, according to Prince William SPCA President Melissa Korzuch.
According to the Prince William SPCA website, the pantry began in 2009, and has helped many local families to feed their pets in times of crisis.
“The Prince William SPCA hosts the only pet food pantry in the community. It is open all year long to help families who may have come on hard times and cannot feed their pets. It is not meant to be used long term but as a bridge to help families keep their pets. Otherwise, more animals will end up in the shelters. We don’t want any pet to starve or be given up because of a lack of food,” stated Korzuch.
Residents in need can visit the pantry for their pets twice a month to receive assistance. According to the Prince William SPCA website, individuals must register, and provide proof of need in order to receive food for their pets.
The Pet Food Pantry expanded their mission in 2014, and began working with volunteers at Woodbridge Homeless Outreach to provide pet food deliveries for individuals in the Woodbridge homeless camps that have pets, which they now do bi-monthly, stated the Prince William SPCA website.
According to the Prince William SPCA website, the pet food pantry receives no government subsidies or funding, and relies entirely on the generous donations from individuals in the community.
“The Pantry runs entirely on donations. We receive plenty of food during the holidays but the shelves can be empty other times of the year. Recently, in April, the pantry ran out of dog food. We put a call out to our volunteers and within a week, the shelter was replenished. We welcome community groups to help us out by making donations throughout the year. It would help keep supplies constant so families don’t go without,’ stated Korzuch.
Items needed for the Pet Food Pantry, from the Prince William SPCA website:
The pantry is currently only accepting unopened food items. We cannot accept opened bags or food not in its original, sealed container. Items needed: any wet or dry pet food for puppies, dogs, kittens and cats; bird, rabbit, and other small animal food. We prefer cans, pouches and smaller bags of food so more families can benefit from the donations. However, we will accept large bags. Also accepted based on space and as long as they are new and unused: toys, beds, litter and other pet supplies.
