News Archives - Colorado Pet Pantry

October is Pet Wellness Month

This October we are celebrating National Pet Wellness Month. Here at Colorado Pet Pantry, we take this subject very seriously. Part of our mission as a nonprofit is to provide pet food assistance to families with the goal of helping them increase their ability to care for their pets.

Our hope is to help ease the burden of rising pet food costs, so families can spend their precious funds on other important things, such as veterinary care.

In addition to pet food assistance, Colorado Pet Pantry also partners with nonprofit low-cost veterinary organizations, such as SpayToday Healthy Pet Center, Bergen Spay & Neuter Alliance, Docs on the Block, Harley’s Hope Foundation and CSU Spur. Through these partnerships, we are able to connect clients in our pet food assistance program to lower cost veterinary care in their areas.

Colorado Pet Pantry joins SpayToday at their July vaccination clinic.

How can you help? What can you do to support Pet Wellness Month?

There are three ways you can support our mission and increase the wellness of pets in your area:

Workplace Giving:

Simplify Your Life

Recurring donations are the crown jewel for nonprofits. The impact of a consistent monthly gift cannot be overstated. These donations provide the stability nonprofits need to plan ahead, maintain operations, and respond to growing demands. One of the most convenient ways to make a recurring gift is through payroll workplace giving programs, offering a simple and impactful way to support our mission regularly.

Many common payroll systems already have this ability. Talk to your employer about setting up pre-tax contributions to Colorado Pet Pantry each pay period.

State and Federal Employees

We have exciting news! Colorado Pet Pantry was recently added as an approved charity to the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) and Colorado Combined Campaign (CCC). These are unique to State and Federal employees, and have an enrollment period, happening from September 16th to the end of the year.

This is the only time of the year where have the ability to add your charity of choice.

Stories: Monique, Mito and Smokey

Monique first learned about Colorado Pet Pantry six years ago when she was struggling financially and saw a flyer at Food Bank for Larimer County, our human food bank partner in Loveland. Feeding her human family, in addition to her dog Mito, and cat Smokey, Monique was grateful to learn that she could get help with both human and pet food, all in one place.

“Mito (pronounced my-toe) was adopted from NoCo Humane Society and it has been amazing having such a loving, sassy, goofy dog. He brings so much unconditional love and joy to our household.”

Smokey is 13 and was adopted from someone to whom Monique used to give respite care. “She is a screamer, she will make sure to wake you up for pets and breakfast. She also is a purr machine and is very soft and cuddly. It’s been a treat being able to take in a senior and help her lose weight.”

Both Mito and Smokey have food sensitivities and special dietary needs, which often requires expensive pet food. Without the help of Colorado Pet Pantry, Monique told us she would likely have to buy cheaper pet food and at times feed Mito less. “My dog does have a sensitive stomach and often needs mid to higher priced food. With him being 120 pounds, it would become very expensive. With everything increasing in price and our dollar spreading thinner, it is hard to afford any quality animal food.”

“Colorado Pet Pantry has helped when our income has reached all-time lows and allowed us to continue to feed Mito. It has helped us when we needed food to get through for our cat Smokey. It has allowed us to keep our pets healthy and happy.”

Colorado Pet Pantry’s mission is to temporarily feed Colorado pets, allowing families to increase their ability to care for pets, with the goal of keeping them out of shelters and with their families. Monique is the perfect illustration of how donating a few extra bags of pet food can help someone and their large dog feel a sense of security in supplying a quality pet food diet. She also exemplifies the strategic move on Colorado Pet Pantry’s part of partnering with human food banks to create a one-stop-shop for everyone in the family to receive food assistance. We are only able to continue this work thanks to the generosity of our donors. Please consider donating today, and with just $5, you can supply one dog or cat with 30-days worth of pet food.

September is Hunger Action Month

September is Hunger Action Month, and while we frequently think about the people who face food insecurity, we must also remember the pets who are part of these families. At Colorado Pet Pantry, we partner with human food banks across the state to ensure that pets don’t go hungry either. We work tirelessly to support pet families, but we can’t do it without your help.

Becoming a monthly donor is the most effective way to make a lasting impact. A recurring gift of any size provides steady support that allows us to efficiently plan, distribute food, and quickly respond to emergencies. It’s the best way to ensure pets in need have access to nutritious food all year long.

With your ongoing support, we can provide meals to pets, keep families together, and meet the growing demand for assistance.

Setting up a monthly donation is easy! Simply click HERE, select the “Monthly” button, then choose an amount, and know that your support will be making a difference every single month. A gift of just $25 will provide 300 meals to animals in need each month.

Set Up Monthly Donation

Support pets like Sir Odin.

Tammy is a client at our pet food pantry in Longmont with OUR Center, where she gets dog food for Odin, and cat food for Jazmine.

Like many clients we speak to, Tammy told us that without help from Colorado Pet Pantry, “I would have had to see them not be as healthy, because they would not have had a stable source of meals. If it came down to it, I would have gone without food instead, so they could eat. They are my family and best friends.”

Thank you for being part of the Colorado Pet Pantry community and for making a difference this Hunger Action Month to help pets and their people!

With gratitude,
Meredith Allin
Director of Development

New Partnership with Banfield Pet Hospital!

We are so excited to announce our new partnership with Banfield Pet Hospital!

Banfield joined Colorado Pet Pantry at our annual Raise the Woof! Party for a Cause fundraiser, to kick off what looks to be a very long partnership. Sponsoring at the very generous $5,000 Leader of the Pack level has enabled us to provide an additional 1,000 dogs or cats with 30-days worth of pet food.

Looking to donate pet food? Well, thanks to Banfield, and several of their locations inside Petsmart’s all across the Front Range and Western Slope, we are adding 21 new donation drop off points to our list! Adding 21 new donation spots to our list, we are already seeing an influx of pet food to our organization. This will make a significant impact on the number of pets that we are able to feed – especially during a time when donations have been decreasing. How does it work? Visit any of these locations during business hours and drop your donations in the bin labeled Colorado Pet Pantry. What can you bring? We accept all new or gently used pet supplies, and all pet food as long as it is not more than one year expired. We also accept open bags of pet food – just make sure it is sealed tightly and the contents are labeled.

In addition to collecting donations, Banfield staff is also helping out with the logistics and warehouse deliveries, which will help us reduce overhead costs!

If you have pet food or supply donations, please consider dropping off at one of these Banfield Pet Hospital locations in your area:

Arvada: 5285 Wadsworth Bypass, Arvada, CO 80002
Arvada West: 5736 Ward Way, Arvada, CO 80002
Westwood: 15530 W 64th Ave Ste K, Arvada, CO 80007
Brighton: 530 E Bromley Ln, Brighton, CO 80601
Brighton: 2435 Prairie Center Pkwy, Brighton, CO 80601
Denver Capitol Hill: 1330 N Grant Street, Denver, CO 80203
Stapleton: 7505 E 35th Ave Ste 301, Denver, CO 80238
Fort Collins: 4432 S College Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80525
Glendale: 4300 E Alameda Ave, Glendale, CO 80246
Grand Junction: 2428 Patterson Rd, Grand Junction, CO 81505
Redstone: 2582 Patterson Rd, Grand Junction, CO 81505
Greeley: 2833 35th Ave, Greeley, CO 80634
Lakewood: 160 Wadsworth Blvd, Lakewood, CO 80226
Longmont: 1216 S Hover St, Longmont CO 80501
Loveland: 1715 Rocky Mountain Ave, Loveland, CO 80538
Northglenn: 10600 Melody Dr, Northglenn, CO 80234
Superior: 402 Center Dr, Superior, CO 80027
Broomfield: 16575 Washington St, Thornton, CO 80023
Bradburn: 4550 Main Street, Westminster, CO 80031
Westy: 10460 Town Center Dr, Westminster, CO 80021
Orchards: 14265 Orchard Pkwy, Suite 100, Westminster, CO 80023

To learn more about Colorado Pet Pantry and how you can help feed pets in need, please visit our webpage “Ways to Give”

September: Casting Call for Black Dogs & Furnace Checks for Charity

Fall is just around the corner and we have two magnificent fundraisers happening.

Canine Colorado Magazine

CALLING ALL BLACK DOGS!
We want YOU in this Special Edition of Canine Colorado Magazine. We have until the end of September to finish all of our photo sessions!

Each year, Canine Colorado and DelaFoto Portraits team up with one lucky animal welfare organization in an effort to raise funds for their cause. This year, DelaFoto Portraits is supporting Colorado Pet Pantry by featuring black dogs for the 5th Edition of Canine Colorado Magazine.

HOW IT WORKS:
Anyone with a black dog (50% of the coat or more must be black) goes to the Canine Colorado’s website, and books a session with DelaFoto Portraits at their Denver-based studio.

For a $250 donation, your pet will receive:

A full two-page spread in the magazine for up to two dogs (WOW!). Additional dogs and pages may be added for a fee (connect with DelaFoto on this).
One 8×10″ mounted art print from your photography studio session.
One complimentary copy of the magazine (valued at $35 or more).
A studio cinematic presentation of the best portrait session images and DelaFoto’s art consultation for any additional artwork you may wish to purchase.
A chance to be in the “Top 10 Cover Contest” taking place during the month of October.

THE MAGAZINE:
This magazine is a 50+ page tribute to man’s best friend. It is printed on thick paper stock, has wonderful stories about many of the dogs inside, and is solely created to support animal-based nonprofit organizations. Only one magazine is produced each year, and makes a wonderful gift for your family and friends during the holidays. For each magazine sold, Colorado Pet Pantry will receive an additional $15 donation from Canine Colorado.

WHY BLACK DOGS?
Black dog syndrome is a phenomenon in pet adoption where black dogs are often ignored in favor of light-colored ones. Observed by shelters and rescue groups across the world, this is an issue negatively affecting the adoption rates of black dogs. By shining a light on this (literally a studio photography light) we hope to bring awareness to this issue and showcase how beautiful these dogs really are.

Book Your Dog Today

Furnace Checks for Charity

Our wonderful friends at Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric have once again selected Colorado Pet Pantry as a program recipient for their Furnace Checks for Charity program this year!

They are offering an amazing deal for the month of September that you won’t want to miss.

If you schedule your 14-Point “Energy Squeezer” furnace systems check from Applewood during the month of September and mention Colorado Pet Pantry, 100% of your payment goes straight to Colorado Pet Pantry. Woof! Woof!

But what happens if Applewood has no availability during September? No worries, just be sure to call during the month of September. If the appointment falls in October, the donation to Colorado Pet Pantry is still active.

Normally a $199 service, Applewood offers this to our supporters for just $99. Schedule your service today by calling (303) 232-6611.

Colorado Pet Pantry’s Raise the Woof! 80s Party for a Cause – Recap

Our Raise the Woof! 80s Party for a Cause was a smashing success. It is official, we raised $100,000 to support pets-in-need across Colorado. This incredible number will supply 20,000 dogs and cats with a 30-day supply of pet food. HUGE thanks to all who came, supported, liked and shared our event across their networks. It is only because of your tremendous support that we are able to continue our work.

Special thanks goes to our event photographers Bina Photography and Soulshine Photography, who graciously volunteered their time, expertise and energy showcasing all of the amazing events throughout the evening.

Cañon City Pet Food Bank – July, Aug and Sept 2024

Hello Cañon City Pet Food Bank Clients,

We are writing to notify you that the July, August and September pet food banks have been rescheduled.

July 27th pet food bank will take place on August 3rd
August 24th pet food bank will take place on August 31st
September 28th pet food bank will take place on September 21st

All of these pet food banks will be at St Michael’s Catholic Church, 1016 Mystic Ave in Cañon City from 10AM to 1PM.

Thank you,
Colorado Pet Pantry

Client Stories – Robert and Kloe

Robert and Kloe are “two peas in a pod.” They’re never apart. Kloe is Robert’s Service Companion and “his best friend, his lifeline.”

Robert had a stroke at the young age of 23, which caused partial paralysis, amongst other health issues. He has lived in nursing homes and been involved in treatment facilities since his stroke, 25 years ago. A few years ago, his social worker and case manager at one of his homes set him up with Volunteers of America (VOA).

Living in a VOA apartment complex gives him the opportunity to live self-sufficiently, and the ability to have a service companion, Kloe.

VOA is one of Colorado Pet Pantry’s Mini Pet Food Banks. These are organizations or remote locations that receive pet food from us to distribute directly to their clients. This is how Robert receives pet food to help feed Kloe. He receives very limited Social Security benefits, and for the most part, dog food is not in his budget.

He is extremely grateful to Colorado Pet Pantry for the donations that Kloe and the other pets at VOA receive. “If I didn’t receive pet food from you guys, Kloe would be eating table scraps, like she used to eat,” Robert shares. Colorado Pet Pantry currently serves 74 Mini Pet Food Banks across Colorado.

We partner with organizations that support low-income families, elderly, homeless, people with disabilities and other groups in-need, to help reach clients and regions we may not otherwise have the resources to access with our monthly pet food banks. In addition to VOA, other organizations we work with include Mercy Housing, Nourish Meals On Wheels, Salvation Army, Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, and various Animal Welfare Organizations.

Impact Report – Summer 2024

Serving Our Community

We are on track to serve 150,000 pets this year, ensuring people facing hardship can keep their beloved companions healthy and fed, and most importantly, at home with their families.

Remarkable Community Support

When faced with a dire food shortage in our warehouse at the start of 2024, you answered our calls for help. During the first quarter, we received an incredible influx of in-kind donations from our compassionate community that provided crucial resources for pets and their people. From office and neighborhood pet food drives, to pallets from distributors, and brands, these donations sustained us through the winter months.

Enhanced Support for Clients in Immediate Need

We transitioned our Emergency Program into a Client Navigation Team model, reducing stress on our staff and volunteers, while efficiently assisting those in need. This new model equips us with more tools to address the demand for pet food, with emergency food pickup being an option, but not the first solution.

Policy Changes for Greater Impact

We implemented new policies to extend our reach, meet the increasing need, and make the most of our plateauing pet food supply. By changing the frequency with which clients can receive food, we are able to help more people and pets in need of assistance, keeping those pets out of shelters and aligning more closely with our mission, to temporarily feed Colorado pets.

Meet Donny & Gabriel

Gabriel, an outgoing yet calm feline companion played a vital role in helping Donny navigate life’s most challenging hurdles with unwavering affection. When a sudden medical crisis left them both without a home, Donny faced the heartbreaking prospect of parting ways with his beloved friend.

Colorado Pet Pantry stepped in, offering a lifeline of support. Providing essential supplies and resources for Gabriel, your support gave this duo the opportunity to remain together, family forever.

Your support can help individuals like Donny and pets like Gabriel stay united during times of crisis. Donate today to Colorado Pet Pantry and help us continue our mission of keeping families and their beloved pets together through life’s toughest challenges.

“The Colorado Pet Pantry has helped Gabriel and me by providing food, treats, toys, a cat condo, which he loves, and a litter box. If it were not for the pantry, I would have struggled.”
~ Donny

Your continued generosity and support empower us to make a tangible difference in the lives of pets and their families across Colorado. Together, we’re building a stronger, healthier, and more compassionate community. Thank you for being a part of this important work.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Eileen Lambert
Executive Director

Meredith Allin
Director of Development

Canine Colorado Magazine teams up with Colorado Pet Pantry

Each year, Canine Colorado Magazine and DelaFoto Portraits team up with one lucky animal welfare organization in an effort to raise funds for their cause. This year, DelaFoto Portraits is supporting Colorado Pet Pantry by featuring black dogs for the 5th Edition of Canine Colorado Magazine.

HOW IT WORKS:
Anyone with a black dog (50% of the coat or more must be black) goes to the Canine Colorado’s website, and books a session with DelaFoto Portraits at their Denver-based studio.

For $250 your pet will receive:

A full two-page spread in the magazine for up to two dogs (WOW!). Additional dogs and pages may be added for a fee (connect with DelaFoto on this).
One 8×10″ mounted art print ($500 value) from your photography studio session.
One complimentary copy of the magazine (valued at $35 or more).
A studio cinematic presentation of the best portrait session images and DelaFoto’s art consultation for any additional artwork you may wish to purchase.
A chance to be in the “Top 10 Cover Contest” taking place during the month of October.

This $250 fee is 100% a donation to Colorado Pet Pantry, and will go to provide 50 dogs or cats with a 30-day supply of pet food.

THE MAGAZINE:
This magazine is a 50+ page tribute to man’s best friend. It is printed on thick paper stock, has wonderful stories about many of the dogs inside, and is solely created to support animal-based nonprofit organizations. Only one magazine is produced each year, and makes a wonderful gift for your family and friends during the holidays. For each magazine sold, Colorado Pet Pantry will receive an additional $15 donation from Canine Colorado.

WHY BLACK DOGS:
Black dog syndrome is a phenomenon in pet adoption in which black dogs are ignored in favor of light-colored ones. Observed by shelters and rescue groups across the world, this is an issue negatively affecting the adoption rates of black dogs. By shining a light on this (literally a studio photography light) we hope to bring awareness to this issue and showcase how beautiful these dogs really are.

Book Your Session NOW

Stories: Donny and Gabriel

Gabriel, an outgoing yet calm feline companion played a vital role in helping Donny navigate life’s most challenging hurdles with unwavering affection.

When a sudden medical crisis left them both without a home, Donny faced the heartbreaking prospect of parting ways with his beloved friend. Colorado Pet Pantry stepped in, offering a lifeline of support. Providing essential supplies and resources for Gabriel, they ensured this duo could remain together, family forever.

“The Colorado Pet Pantry has helped Gabriel and me by providing food, treats, toys, a cat condo, which he loves, and a litter box. If it were not for the pantry, I would have struggled.”
~ Donny

Your support can help individuals like Donny and pets like Gabriel stay united during times of crisis. Donate today to Colorado Pet Pantry and help us continue our mission of keeping families and their beloved pets together through life’s toughest challenges.

11 Years in the Making

What started in 2013 as a Denver-based small nonprofit, supplying pet food to 858 pets per year, has grown into a statewide organization, with over 100 locations, distributing food to over 150,000 pets a year.

Over the last 11 years, Colorado Pet Pantry experienced exponential growth. Donations and need grew hand-in-hand, allowing us to maximize our impact.

However, after the Covid shutdown took hold on pet food manufacturing plants, and large-scale emergency donations ceased, the world suddenly faced an extensive, long-term pet food shortage. See video here about how we handled the pet food shortage. Because of this, Colorado Pet Pantry had to switch gears and focus on stabilization, rather than growth. Now, after two years of established commitment to our communities, we are excited to announce that we have had the ability and opportunity to open a new pet food pantry location in Cortez, CO.

For several years, we have been serving the community of Southwest Colorado, helping people feed and keep their pets, including “open to the public” locations in Mancos, Dove Creek, and Bayfield, as well as “mini pet food pantries” in Durango, Pagosa Springs, and the Ute Mountain Reservation of Towoac.

We held our first Cortez monthly pet food pantry in partnership with Good Samaritan’s Food Pantry on May 31, 2024. The opening of the new location in partnership with Good Sam’s was done with financial support from the LOR Foundation.

After years of no expansion, Colorado Pet Pantry wanted to take the first opportunity to open a pantry in Cortez and help the many guests in this area who need assistance.

Thanks to support from a dedicated core group of volunteers, who travel the area to host the pet food pantries, we were able to assist about 54 families and 228 pets on our first day with about 2,000 pounds of pet food.

We were even surprised by a visit from our prior program manager Suzanne (pictured here with another volunteer) who helped develop the assistance program in this area, before passing the torch to our new Program Manager Kim, who joined our team in January. Kim is making significant strides to help more people and pets in the area.

Suzanne and Colorado Pet Pantry volunteer.

We will be at this location on the last Friday of every month from 12PM to 2PM. Clients are eligible to receive pet food once out of every three months. Our full calendar is here.

Client Spotlight: Meet Wilder Lee. Wilder was one of the rare kitties to visit us “in-purr-son”. He has a disease called Cerebral Hypoplasia. His mom had Feline Leukemia when he was in utero. This disease will likely mean he can never walk and will continue to be 100% dependent on his person for food, water, nurturing, and urination. See Wilder’s Video here.

Due to the high cost of raising a pet with special needs, his person was grateful to pick up pet food at the pantry to assist with keeping Wilder as healthy as possible.

Additional Services: Many guests at this pantry had questions about spay and neuter options in the area. We offer a resource guide with several options (download Southwest Colorado resource PDF), including a mobile spay/neuter service that will host a clinic in September called Bergen Spay Neuter. More info here.

Thank you to everyone who made this new location possible, and Happy 11 Year Birthday to Colorado Pet Pantry. We are very excited to help pet families in the town of Cortez, and to have the ability to add this new location.

To volunteer with us, please visit this link. Colorado Pet Pantry is always grateful and in need of donations to make this work possible. We are able to feed a dog or cat for a full 30 days with just a $5 donation.

Colorado Pet Pantry Expands its Pet Food Bank to Cortez

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 5/30/24

Cortez, CO – Colorado Pet Pantry is hosting a new monthly pet food bank serving the Cortez area. The first pet food distribution event will take place on May 31, 2024 and will continue on the last Friday of every month from 12 – 2 PM.

This pet food bank is in partnership with Good Sam’s Food Pantry and is supported by the LOR Foundation.

The addition of the pet food bank in Cortez comes after recent expansion in the Southwest area of Colorado including Dove Creek, Grand Junction, Mancos, and the Towaoc Reservation in the Four Corners region.

“We are thrilled to bring these much-needed services to the Cortez area,” said Eileen Lambert, Executive Director of the Colorado Pet Pantry. “The addition of this pet food bank has been years in the making, and we are grateful to our partners and volunteers who make it all possible. Because of our monthly pet food banks, we’ve been able to keep tens of thousands of pets fed, housed with their loving families, and out of shelters.”

Anyone needing assistance feeding their pets should visit coloradopetpantry.org and click “get help” to learn more.

Volunteers and donations are needed in the area for both the food bank and the warehouse. Interested persons should visit coloradopetpantry.org to learn more about how to support the mission.

About Colorado Pet Pantry

The Colorado Pet Pantry temporarily feeds Colorado pets, allowing families to increase their ability to care for pets with the goal of keeping them out of shelters and with their families. In the past 12 months, the Colorado Pet Pantry has served 9 million meals to hungry pets. The organization has 100 monthly pet food banks. The Colorado Pet Pantry is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Our EIN is 45-4210185.

More info: coloradopetpantry.org

About the LOR Foundation

LOR works with rural communities in the Mountain West to enhance livability and prosperity while preserving the character that makes each community unique.

More info: lorfoundation.org

About Good Sam’s Food Pantry

The Good Samaritan Center is a food pantry and emerging community food center in Cortez, CO. We provide food assistance to anyone who needs it through market-style shopping for supplementary groceries and opportunities to grow food for personal use. Households can shop for groceries up to twice per month. Our Goals for 2024 include increasing the quantity and variety of locally produced food we distribute and working with members and partners to continue programs that educate, empower and nourish us as a community.

More info: goodsamscortez.org

Kroenke Sports Charities Supports Pet Families in Colorado

Whether it’s from a donation of pet food, volunteer time, live auction items for our fundraisers, or multiple grants to our organization, one thing is clear: Kroenke Sports Charities takes the livelihood of Colorado pet families seriously.

Over the years Kroenke Sports Charities has been overwhelmingly generous to Colorado Pet Pantry. Each year, they send Bernie, the Avalanche Mascot to one of our pet food pantries to help distribute pet food.

A delight to children and pets, Bernie graciously helps distribute thousands of pounds of kibble to local pet families, helping to keep their pets in their homes and out of shelters.

With the help of Kroenke Sports Charities, Colorado Pet Pantry has distributed over 35 million meals in the last 11 years.

Everything we do, we do with help, and Kroenke Sports Charities has consistently shown up for us, year after year, as a local leader in community support.