Denver, CO, February 10 – On February 14, 2023, Kroenke Sports Charities will make a donation of $25,000 which will provide 300,000 pet food meals to clients of the statewide nonprofit pet food bank organization Colorado Pet Pantry. This grant will feed 4,000 pets for 30 days, helping people to avoid relinquishing their pets when financial challenges arise.
In celebration of Valentine’s Day, Avalanche Mascot Bernie will make a special appearance at the Colorado Pet Pantry’s pet food bank in the Swansea neighborhood of Denver on February 14, 2023 from 1:30-2:30pm. Bernie will help distribute pet food to people coming to get assistance from Colorado Pet Pantry.
PetSmart is joining the effort by also contributing pet food and dog toys which Bernie and Colorado Pet Pantry volunteers will distribute at this pet food bank.
The pet food bank is held by Colorado Pet Pantry in partnership with We Don’t Waste and WeeCycle, which will hold a mobile human food bank and diaper bank at the same time. Colorado Pet Pantry holds most of its pet food banks in conjunction with a partner’s human food bank.
Date: Tuesday, February 14, 2023
Time: 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Where: Focus Points Family Resource Center, 2501 E 48th Ave, Denver, CO 80216
In January 2023, at its monthly Swansea pet food bank, the Colorado Pet Pantry served 376 pets and 150 families a total of 4,000 lbs of pet food and 800 cans of food so that families in-need were able to keep their pets with their loving families. On February 14, the expectation is that the nonprofit organization will serve the same or more families. The need has been steadily growing at pet food banks throughout Colorado, and especially in high need areas such as the Swansea neighborhood of Denver, due to inflation, cost of housing, and now, the looming February 28 expiration of COVID-19 SNAP emergency allotments (food stamp) benefits, which will drastically eat into a person or family’s resources for acquiring human food. While pet food cannot be purchased with food stamps, the change in SNAP benefits will reduce a person’s ability to get human food, leaving less financial resources for feeding pets, further increasing the need for pet food banks such as Colorado Pet Pantry.
The Kroenke Sports Charities (KSC) grant to Colorado Pet Pantry was made in honor of the Colorado Avalanche’s 27th season, during which KSC made generous donations to 27 Colorado nonprofits. More info on the recipients is available here: https://www.nhl.com/avalanche/news/kroenke-sports-charities-ksc-and-avs-to-celebrate-watch-party-grants/c-340441124
For more information about the Colorado Pet Pantry and/or this event, please contact Eileen Lambert, 720-441-3111, eileen@coloradopetpantry.org.
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 6.9 million meals to hungry pets. The organization has 103 monthly pet food banks throughout the state of Colorado. 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: www.coloradopetpantry.org
About Kroenke Sports Charities
Kroenke Sports Charities is committed to improving lives through the spirit and power of sports. We strive to serve our community through education, health and fitness initiatives, athletic programs, and direct aid, with the particular purpose of helping families, children, veterans, and the disabled. Kroenke Sports Charities provides relevant programs and support, directly and with other nonprofit organizations, to ultimately assist, encourage, and enrich the lives of those in need. https://www.ballarena.com/arena-information/kroenke-sports-charities/
