The holidays are a time of giving. Often, we think about giving to our friends, family, and local charities. However, pets are just as in need of extra love and care during the holiday season, especially pets that live with families that may be struggling to care for them.
What Is a Pet Food Pantry?
A pet food pantry is just like a human food pantry. It offers services for pet owners such as providing free food, pet supplies, mobile food delivery services for seniors that can’t make it to a physical location, and other resources as needed. Pet food pantries can sometimes be part of a regular food pantry, but in most cases they’re their own organization. In addition, your local animal shelter or veterinary clinic may be linked to a pet food pantry to help provide support.
How You Can Help
Just as with regular food drives, many pet food pantries run pet food drives and rely on donations to stay open. They also need volunteers that can help deliver food or run open shop days. Reaching out to your local pet food pantry directly, or seeing if your regular veterinary clinic or local shelter is holding a drive, is a great way to see which areas are in need.
Pet food pantries aren’t only for the holidays. They need regular donations throughout the year to help keep them running and serving people (and pets) in need. If you don’t have time or items to donate this holiday season, think about helping out during other parts of the year. Your contribution could make a difference!
Local Pet Food Pantries in Metro Detroit
Whether you’re looking for a local pantry to support or need help with assistance, these pet food pantries in the Detroit Metro are here to help. And remember, there’s no shame if you need to use these services. They’re here to help everyone in the community during a rough time.
Michigan Humane’s Judith Caplan Phillips Pet Pantry
Location: 6175 Trumbull Avenue, Detroit, MI
Hours Open: Hours vary, visit website for calendar
Website: https://www.michiganhumane.org/pet-pantry-program/
How to Volunteer/Donate: The Michigan Humane Society has teamed up with several donors to help support its local pet pantry. Food can be donated directly to any of Michigan Humane Society’s locations or scheduled by calling the number on the website.
New Beginnings Animal Rescue Pet Pantry
Location: 2502 Rochester Road, Royal Oak, MI
Hours Open: Every Sunday 12 PM – 2 PM except holidays
Website: https://www.nbarmichigan.org/pet-food-pantry.html
How to Volunteer/Donate: This local pet rescue also operates a pet food pantry for those in need. Food can be donated directly to the center and they will also accept opened bags. They’re also looking for pet supplies and cleaning products that can be provided to owners. In addition, you can directly donate money via their website if you prefer.
Humane Society of Huron Valley Pet Food Assistance
Location: 3100 Cherry Hill Road, Ann Arbor, MI
Hours Open: Every Sunday 12 PM – 3 PM
Website: https://www.hshv.org/get-help/bountifulbowls/
How to Volunteer/Donate: The Humane Society of Huron Valley offers its bountiful bowls program to pets in need. In addition, they offer other services, including emergency boarding. You can make an online donation, order supplies they need through their Amazon Wishlist, or bring food directly to their location.
Macomb County Pet Food Pantry
Location: 21417 Dunham Road, Clinton Township, MI
Hours Open: By Appointment Only
Website: https://www.macombgov.org/departments/animal-control/programs/pet-food-pantry
How to Volunteer/Donate: If you’re looking to donate food or pet supplies for Macomb County families in need, contact the Macomb County Animal Control department. Pickups and donations are done via appointment.
Do you have a pet food pantry you help out with during the holidays that isn’t listed here? Be sure to comment below, or send us an email to let us know! We’ll add it to our list.
The holidays can be stressful for families in need. By helping donate to a local pet food pantry, you can ensure everyone has a wonderful holiday season.
The Detroit Barker 
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