Join me on my journey that has taken me from a casual pet owner to an animal advocate, shelter volunteer and dog mom to 3, oops - make that 4 Siberian Huskies and a very neurotic cat!
The Four Legged Food Drive in Omaha, ended the campaign with an event at the HyVee Grocery Store on 90th and Center. We were overwhelmed by the support of animal lovers in Omaha! The food and donations poured in and we collected over 1500 pounds of food that day and over $400 in cash donations to help support pet food for the Omaha Food Bank!
The event brought us within 700 pounds of our goal with one week left in the food drive. Omaha really came through. We collected an additional 752 pounds of food from our collection locations the following week to bring us over our goal of 4,000 pounds!!!
Hy-Vee grocery store at 90th and Center in Omaha has agreed to help us host an event that will ensure we reach our goal of 4000 pounds of pet food donated to the Omaha Food Bank by Labor Day!
We will be on location from 8 till 2 that day with goody bag giveaways and a chance to register to win a wooden dog house valued at $150! We are asking that customers purchase or bring a donation of unexpired and unopened dog or cat food to this (or one of our other drop off locations)location.
We can use some help, if you'd like to volunteer to work this event or help stuff bags, please e-mail OmahaPetFoodDrive@gmail.com
Congratulations Omaha!!! Over 1100 pounds of pet food has already been dropped off at theOmaha Food Bank!
There have been some questions surrounding the Four Legged Food Drive. I have started a FAQ section and will continue to update it as questions arise.
Omaha Four Legged Food Drive FAQ’s
Q:We’ve gone to the food bank previously with donations or requests to do a food drive and have been turned down.
A:Best Friends was not aware that the food bank refused pet food donations in the past, but we are very appreciative that they have decided to collaborate with us on this project.
Q:The Food Bank is telling people that they don’t have pet food to give to them
A:Typically, large food banks don’t distribute directly to the public. They work through partner agencies. To find an agency that can help go to:http://www.omahafoodbank.org/about/needfood.htm
Q:Why not give the donated food to rescue organizations instead who could easily give the food to those asking for help?
A:Our goal with this food drive was to get the food to families in need to prevent them from getting to the point of considering relinquishing their pets. Our project plan in all of our cities calls for working with identified food pantries in each community. If needy people are coming to the rescue partners for help, would they be able to refer them to the link above (and/or print it out to give to them).
We would also like to support the work of local rescue groups through our Best Friends Network.
Do you know that rescue groups can do all of the following with the backing of Best Friends:
Accept online donations.
Take advantage of the Best Friends marketing of the Network and the Network Charities program to raise money and increase awareness of your organization.
Participate in Best Friends promotional programs for Network Charities. You could win money from Best Friends!
Recruit volunteers. We will post your volunteer opportunities on the Best Friends volunteer database where thousands of animal lovers from all over the country have already indicated they want to help the animals.
The press releases have been sent out, the food collection containers are getting decorated and Omaha is ready to begin our first ever Pet Food Drive benefiting the Omaha Food Bank.
Hundreds of pounds of food have already been donated through word of mouth - I've had them dropped off at work, exchanges made in parking lots and found bags of food on my door step. I've received gift cards and checks in the mail from people no longer living in Omaha but who want to help our neighbors.
Please visit the wonderful locations that are accepting donations - bring an unopened and unexpired bag of cat or dog food and help our neighbors in need!
I would like to extend a special thank you to Mr. Joe Kotulic, from Kansas City, MO. Joe graciously donated twelve 48 gallon Sterelite plastic totes with wheels to use at our collection locations. Not only did he donate the totes, but he made a 6 hour round trip to deliver them today! Joe is an animal lover and advocate. He and his wife do rescue work and care for many cats and dogs as well as supporting a number of non profit organizations that benefit animals - including Best Friends.
Thanks to early grassroots efforts, donations have already started to come in. My office at work is gathering a wonderful pile of cat and dog food donations and over 100 pounds have been delivered to my door step! Thank you all for your generosity! And if you haven't donated - the locations are on this blog - please stop by the most convenient location.
Friends and strangers from outside the Omaha area have sent checks and gift cards - I in turn will go buy the food and add to our donation collection. I'm also taking checks that directly benefit the Omaha Food Bank or Best Friend's First Home Forever Home campaign.
View Omaha Four Legged Food Drive in a larger map The following locations will be taking collections for the Pet Food Drive, benefiting the Omaha Food Bank, beginning July 6th. The collections will continue through Labor Day.
A Hill of Beans Coffee Roasters 14512 W. Center Road (Harvey Oaks Plaza) Omaha, NE 68144 402-333-6048 www.aHillofBeans.com Gentle Doctor Animal Hospitals - all 3 locations www.GentleDoctorAnimalHospitals.com 15230 W. Maple Road Omaha, NE 68116 402-445-4400 12031 Blondo Omaha, NE 68164 402-493-9650
8911 Grant Street Omaha, NE 68134 402-397-4344
Nature Dog 3647 North 129th St (Eagle Run Square) Omaha, NE 68164 402-697-7156 www.NatureDogOmaha.com
BonaFide Dog Academy 14840 Grover Street (one block south of Industrial Rd.) Omaha, NE 68144 402-250-9452 www.bonafidedogacademy.com
Dogtopia 13239 Portal Drive (off S. 132nd Street just south of Giles Rd.) LaVista, NE 68138 402-502-4797 http://www.dogdaycare.com/omaha
Studio...Gallery 4965 Dodge Street Omaha, NE 68132
Four thousand pounds of food for our friends on four legs is the goal for the Four Legged Food Drive in Omaha. We have the summer to hit this number - but I know Omaha will make this happen. Let's show the country that Omaha is a pet friendly city and let's support our neighbors in need.
We got the first official donation yesterday. 20 lbs. down!!
