“Pets are their lifeline:” New program provides meals for furry friends of homebound older adults
SALISBURY, Md.- “We would notice that their Meals On Wheels container would be on the ground. ‘We would say well why is it on the floor?’ They couldn’t afford or find the food for their pets so they were sharing their meals,” MAC Inc.’s Meals On Wheels Delivery Coordinator Joseph Ferraro said.
Meals brought in from Mac’s Meals on Wheels program simply weren’t enough for the whole household.
Salisbury Maryland Kennel Club’s Peggy Bradford says the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need to feed not just seniors, but also their furry friends. “For many people, pets are their lifeline,” SMKC member and SMKC Charitable Trust Treasurer Peggy Bradord said.
“So we said hey, lets see if we can get our members and the community involved and raising money so we can purchase food for Meals on Wheels recipients.”
It’s called the Meals on Wheels Loves Pets Program. It was funded by an over $8,000 grant received from Meals on Wheels of America. The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore also contributed to this effort as well.
The program operated as a pilot project through its first year, and those we spoke with say the positive reception from the community and seniors helped showed that it was fulfilling a need.
The program provides food for pets of Meals on Wheels seniors in Wicomico County. Monthly, participants are surveyed for their pets needs, the program shops for it, then a group of volunteers pack up the food for drivers to deliver to clients.
“We want to keep the pets healthy, keep the older person healthy, and make this community better,” Bradford said.
We’re told not only is the program providing meals for pets, it’s helping relieve some stress on their owners. “We had one gentleman who said that he was able to sleep better at night because he didn’t have to worry about his pet being fed.”
63 clients, 100 plus pets, and over 11,000 meals later, the program continues to grow. Now, those we spoke with say to continue serving they’ll need a help hand from the community. “Your support can make a world of a difference to an older person and to that pet,” Bradford said.
MAC’S Mission is to help older adults prosper in their homes and their communities.
As the need continues to grow for Meals on Wheels Loves Pets Service, the program is in need of donations.
If you’re interested in lending a helping paw and finding out more information, contact Al Chandler at (410)-742-0505 ext. 144.
You can also visit MAC here
