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Volunteer Spotlight: Krystal Parish

We are excited to shine a spotlight on one of our remarkable volunteers who has been making a significant impact through her dedication and passion. Meet Krystal Parish!

Why Krystal Stands Out

Krystal has been working with Colorado Pet Pantry for seven years. Beyond her commitment to our mission, she is an avid traveler, skier, and devoted animal lover.  

Krystal goes above and beyond by actively participating in our fundraising efforts, helping to staff community pet food banks, lead community outreach events, and transporting pet food donations from all over the state!

You can catch Krystal at Parry’s Pizza this Thursday, or out hitting the slopes in Winter Park. Be sure to check out her generously donated auction item, available for rent year-round! 

Words of Appreciation

We’re incredibly grateful to have Krystal as part of our team! Her infectious positivity, sense of humor, and genuine passion for our cause light up our community.

Working with Krystal isn’t just fun and fulfilling—it amplifies our impact for animals in need. We appreciate her dedication and uplifting spirit, and we’d love for more folks to join us in making a difference together!

Join Krystal and others in making a difference by exploring volunteer opportunities on our website. Not able to volunteer? Consider making a donation. Thanks to our pet food partnerships, just a $5 donation can support one dog or cat with 30-days worth of pet food.

Exciting Opportunity for the Right Volunteer

We are looking for the right individual to run our Greeley pet food pantry. This pet food pantry serves a large area in Northeastern Colorado, and this community counts on Colorado Pet Pantry. On the first Monday of every month, from 9-11AM, we distribute about 1,500 pounds of dog food and 550 pounds of cat food to 80 families, helping over 300 pets stay in their loving homes. 

You could reside in the Denver area, or you could live near Greeley, Colorado. Either way, we need your help! 

As lead volunteer, you would transport pet food in our Colorado Pet Pantry van, from our Englewood Warehouse, North to Greeley, and then back again after the pet food bank. The volunteers arrive at Weld Food Bank, at 8:15AM, help you set up and distribute pet food to our clients. Then at 11AM, the pet food bank closes, you and your volunteers pack up any remaining supplies into the van (there usually isn’t much if any), and depart about 11:30AM. 

Test the Waters – On Monday, April 1st, join us in Greeley to find out if this is the right fit for you. If you have ever volunteered at a pet food pantry before, you would know this is a very rewarding experience, with lots of wagging tails involved. 🙂

Email info@coloradopetpantry.org if you would like to join us in April.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Sincerely,
Eileen Lambert
Executive Director
Colorado Pet Pantry

Purina Supports Colorado Pets through Ongoing Pet Food Donations

Since Colorado Pet Pantry began in 2013, Purina has donated almost 200,000 pounds of pet food and supplies to the program. This type of large-brand ongoing donation is what makes Colorado Pet Pantry’s work possible.

Thanks to Purina, we are able to plan ahead, strategize, and help as many pets as possible in Colorado with pet food assistance. Purina cares about their community and has stepped up in numerous situations with large-scale donations of dog and cat food.

Join us in saying THANK YOU to our amazing pet food donor, Purina. ❤️

Only Natural Pet Supports Colorado Pet Families

We LOVE Only Natural Pet!

This local company, founded right here in Boulder, has been an instrumental supporter of Colorado pet families for as long as Colorado Pet Pantry has existed.

In addition to monthly multiple-pallet-sized (thousands of pounds) donations of brand new pet food, Only Natural Pet donates all close to best-by date or damaged bags of pet food to Colorado Pet Pantry. THIS is how we are able to operate.

This type of product, no longer sell-able in stores, would otherwise be headed straight to the landfill. Colorado Pet Pantry rescues this pet food, and with the help of valued partners like Only Natural Pet, directs it straight into the bowls of dogs and cats who need it the most.

“At Only Natural Pet we are fortunate to be working with local partners such as Colorado Pet Pantry (CPP) who share both our values and commitment to our Colorado community. For over 10 years, CPP has been supporting our local community and we look forward to supporting CPP efforts to make a difference in the lives of pets and families for years to come.” 

~ The Team at Only Natural Pet

Thank you, Only Natural Pet, for partnering with us in our mission to reduce the unwanted pet population, and ensure that no pet family need to relinquish their beloved pet due to financial constraints or lack of resources. Your efforts do not go unnoticed, and we are so happy to have you on board.

Hill’s Pet Nutrition Supports Colorado Pet Pantry

Over the last decade Hill’s Pet Nutrition has been a vital pet food donor to Colorado Pet Pantry. With thousands of pounds of pet food donated, they have consistently supported our organization. From puppy, to senior, canned and adult kibble, Hills has been supporting Colorado pet families in an amazing way.

Over the last decade, Hills Pet Nutrition has donated over 300,000 pounds of pet food to Colorado Pet Pantry!

Join us in saying THANK YOU to this company, for putting the needs of pets first.

We Love “I And Love And You”

“I and Love and You” was created in Boulder and has been a huge supporter for many years. When we called them a couple weeks ago to tell them we were very low on pet food, they jumped to assist us with a truck of donations.

Over the last ten years, I and Love and You has donated over 350,000 pounds of pet food to Colorado Pet Pantry!

During the month of January, I and Love and You has featured us as the “Rescue of the Month”! Thank you so much to this valued partner of Colorado Pet Pantry.

Supporting our food donors helps them to support Colorado Pet Pantry. Check your favorite store for their delicious and nutritious pet food selections!

Alert: WE NEED PET FOOD

Wet food, dry food, or canned – we need it.

Three years ago, when the world shut down for a pandemic, so did the pet food factories and their ingredient suppliers. Because Colorado Pet Pantry accepts large scale donations of short-dated pet food, it has taken three years for the effects of the shut down to reach us. The pet food that would have expired, literally does not exist, so the donations are nonexistent.

At our current capacity, with 100 pet food pantries, we need about 100,000 pounds of pet food to make it through each month. Our outlook on incoming large scale donations is bleak. We have asked every major pet food band out there for help (do you know anyone at any major pet food brands? If so please email us at info@coloradopetpantry.org we are open to any and all suggestions). Many have responded, but there is still a major shortfall in the amount of donations coming in and the amount we need.

Because of this shortfall, we are having to make drastic changes. Starting immediately, we are moving our pet food recipients to only receive food every three months (before it was every other month). This is a necessity if we want to continue helping as many people as possible.

What can you do to help?

Start a pet food drive in your community or place of business

  • Pet food drives are a great way to spread awareness about our organization, and provide a solution to our biggest problem – the need for more food donations. Colorado Pet Pantry started as a small community supported organization with just a few donation drop off stores. Our program only works if donations exist. And we need your help. Learn more here.

Network with your group

  • Do you know anyone who works for a pet food company? Or anywhere that we could source large-scale donations? We often partner with retail stores such as Costco, Target, Veterinary Clinics, etc. to accept any short-dated or damaged pet food bags. If you or someone you know works in a store that sells pet food, and has access to expiring pet food, please put us in touch by emailing info@coloradopetpantry.org!

Ultimately the pet food factories did start up again. The world got back to a new normal, and in the future, donations will exist. But right now, we need our community to help us bridge this gap.

Thank you, Your Friends at Colorado Pet Pantry

Client Stories – Angela and Claire

“Claire is a hound who loves people!” Angela laughs, as she describes Claire’s antics. “She yodels at everyone she meets and loves to point at squirrels!” Claire lost her home when her former owner passed away and no provisions were made for her. Angela came to the rescue by taking Claire into her heart and her home.

“She always knows my moods and is extremely sensitive to when I need her. She is everything to me.” But, Angela laments, “With the economy today it is very expensive for dog food. Claire is a 100 pound Black Labrador/Pointer mix and she eats a lot!”

Angela adds, “Colorado Pet Pantry is a life saver! They supplement Claire’s food and save me money for other bills. Without Pet Pantry, I would be forced to feed Claire cheap dog food or even people food, which isn’t good for her.”

Colorado Pet Pantry returns Claire’s joyful yodel in our appreciation for dedicated pet owners like Angela and promise to keep helping these two in the future.

Impact Report – 2023

In the last 12 months…

  • 9 Million Meals fed to pets in need
  • 1.5 Million Pounds of kibble and
  • 309,000 Cans of wet food distributed to dogs and cats
  • 150,000 Dogs and Cats received a 30-day supply of food
  • 45,000 Families assisted in keeping their pets at home
  • 928 Volunteers generously donated their time, adding up to
  • 17,537 Hours of Service, equates to
  • $602,558 Donated toward keeping families together
  • ($34.36 per hour in Colorado via Independent Sector in 2023)

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

  • Doubled warehouse space in Cortez to be more efficient with transporting pet food to Southwest Colorado, reducing our carbon footprint and better preparing for winter months
  • Rescued 1.5 Million pounds of pet food from people, businesses, and pet food brands that may have been destined for landfills, to help feed pets-in-need
  • Partnered with Food Bank of the Rockies to move almost 100,000 lbs of pet food each year to the Western Slope in their trucks with available pallet space.
  • Collected thousands of pet related supplies and streamlined them into the hands of over 100 animal welfare organizations in Colorado, through our Animal Welfare Share Program.

BUILDING EFFICIENCIES WITHIN ANIMAL WELFARE

  • It costs $200-$2,000 for an animal shelter or rescue to re-home a pet. Colorado Pet Pantry helps beloved pets stay with their people so shelters and rescues can focus on truly homeless pets.
  • Our Animal Welfare Share Program is a hub for donated dog and cat supplies, allowing animal rescues, shelters, low-cost veterinary services, and other animal welfare organizations the ability to reduce the amount spent on items like pet beds, collars, leashes, crates, kennels, bowls, and prescription pet food, saving these items from landfills, and saving funds for other much-needed services, such as vet care.

Start a Fundraiser for Colorado Pet Pantry on ColoradoGives.org

The amazing thing about Colorado Gives Day, is that you can amplify your gift with partial and full donation matches. This day embodies the power of community giving. When we work together, and a lot of people pitch in, we can do amazing things.

Please help us make the most of this moment in time by starting a fundraiser on ColoradoGives.org for Colorado Pet Pantry. This year, we have an ambitious goal of raising $100,000 to help feed more pets in 2024. If you would like to help us reach this goal, we urge you to take this easy-to-use fundraising platform and put it to good use.

Here are the steps to create your fundraiser on our page:

  • Click the Fundraise Button on our Organization Page
  • Select “Get Started” and make sure to have “Use Template Provided by Organization” clicked to get started right away – you can still customize this template.
  • If you choose to customize your goal, deadline, and story, you can do that here, otherwise go ahead and hit PUBLISH, and please SHARE this fundraiser with your network, co-workers, or any animal lovers you know!

Together we can make a difference in the lives of pets this season. Thank you for being an active part of our Colorado Pet Pantry community.

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.

Client Stories – Lisa and Velcro

Lisa adopted sweet Velcro as a kitten. Dirty and alone, she took Velcro in and it was love at first sight. “She’s my joy to celebrate successes, and the door greeter welcoming any and all guests. Every day I thank the Universe for bringing her into my life.”

As Velcro grew up, Lisa learned her little body required a special, very expensive, prescription food to stay healthy. Due to the amazing donations by our generous pet food donors, Colorado Pet Pantry typically has this type of food on-hand. “It is very expensive but necessary to prevent her from getting sick. I can’t thank Colorado Pet Pantry enough for providing this cat food in a time when affording rent has become very overwhelming. Basic necessities are a struggle, and I am honestly not sure what I would have done to provide Velcro with her prescription food.”

Colorado Pet Pantry is a supplemental pet food assistance program. Offering pet food to our clients every other month enables us to lift a huge financial burden that furry friends can have on a monthly budget.

In 2022, Colorado Pet Pantry provided almost seven million meals to families across Colorado. It is our honor to be able to offer this service to so many community members.

We Need Adult Dog Kibble

Thank you to all who responded to our need for Adult Dog Food. We truly appreciate the donations you have sent. We go through thousands of pounds of kibble each month at our pet food banks. Our need is on-going and great. If you have the means to donate pet food – an extra bag in your pantry, or anything from our wishlist, we would be very grateful! There are several different ways to donate.

If you are not able to donate right now, THAT IS OK! You can still help us by spreading the word about our need. It takes a village.

Client Stories: Dawn, Brave, Zeke & Kalos

“Sometimes the most overlooked family members during any divorce can be people’s pets.”

In April 2022, Dawn and her family had 2 dogs, 2 cats, 3 goats and 28 chickens. Due to financial stress from a divorce, Dawn could no longer afford to care for all of her animals. She had to make the heartbreaking decision to re-home her goats, chickens and one of her house cats. Dawn learned about Colorado Pet Pantry’s SECOR pet food bank in Parker, Colorado, in August of 2022. With the help of our pet food assistance program, Dawn and her son, Levi, have been able to keep and care for their cat, Brave, and their retired livestock guardian dogs, Zeke and Kalos.

“My son and I are both thrilled that we have been able to continue to love and enjoy our remaining animals. They are thriving on the generous donations from Colorado Pet Pantry. I’m so grateful for every bag and can of food that the Pet Pantry has provided. Though we are uncertain of the future, we are grateful to be able to do life with our furry family members. Kalos alerts me when my blood sugar is low, and, Zeke and Brave can tell when we need a bit of comfort. I’m grateful that with the help of Colorado Pet Pantry, I’ve been able to keep my dogs and my sweet cat Brave, after losing my goats.”

Pets need every chance possible to stay in their forever homes with the humans who love them. Our goal at Colorado Pet Pantry, is to keep pets with their families. With the help of our supporters, we provide supplemental pet food assistance to cover the gap when housing costs, inflation, medical expenses, vet care, job loss, underemployment, or divorce, chip away at the resources people need to feed their pets.