Dietert Center plans Pet Food Drive supporting Meals on Wheels

The Dietert Center is hosting a Pet Food Drive on Tuesday, April 29, from 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. to provide for the pets of homebound seniors in need.  According to Brenda Thompson, “Meals on Wheels Pet Partners is an important part of Dietert Center’s overall mission to support healthy aging.  As we provide “More than a Meal” to our Meals on Wheels clients, we are checking in on safety and aspects of continued independent living.  In some cases, pets are their only companions so we want to do what we can to make sure their nutritional needs are met in addition to the seniors in Kerr County.”

Volunteer Trudy Sundin coordinates the Meals on Wheels Pet Partners program and communicates with Meals on Wheels clients to check on their pets.  Steadfast volunteers deliver pet food as needed when they make their daily visits with a warm meal for the human resident.  Through a grant from Petsmart Charities and local donors, Dietert Center has received restricted funding to help provide access to veterinary care for these homebound seniors’ pets as funding is available.  When you give online at www.dietertcenter.org, there is an area to specify support for the Meals on Wheels Pet Partners program.

Tuesday’s pet food drive will build up Dietert Center’s supply for the season.  Pet food donations are also accepted at Dietert Center year-round, and community partners collaborate to support Pet food for seniors in need.  Barriers to getting pet food can be both financial and transportation-related since they no longer drive.  Director of Philanthropy Paige Sumner noted, “Dietert Center has been very fortunate to have supported the recipients entirely with in-kind donations of pet food since the inception of the pet program.  We are hopeful to continue to help homebound seniors in need of pet food through these in-kind donations.”

The mission of Dietert Center is to proactively support healthy aging by providing information, services, activities, and rewarding volunteer opportunities that enhance quality of life.  For more information about the Meals on Wheels Pet Prtners program or referring someone to Meals on Wheels in Kerr County, contact Dietert Center at (830) 792-4044.