Two Gilbert businesses are among over 110\u00a0 that have joined Kelly Smith\u2019s month-long effort to help an East Valley animal rescue that was founded during one of the Valley\u2019s darkest periods in recent memory.<\/p>\n
And this weekend, Smith and a band of volunteers launched the fifth annual Yes to Pets food and animal accessory drive to help Lost Our Home rescue in Tempe.<\/p>\n
Continuing through Oct. 3, people drop off their donations at Silk and Stone,735 N. Gilbert Road, and The GC Team, 5656 S. Power Road, to help the nonprofit.<\/p>\n
Lost Our Home was founded in 2008 as a grassroots response to the housing crisis that left thousands of people displaced and thousands of pets abandoned.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Founder and Executive Director Jodi Polanski was working at the time as a\u00a0 mortgage banker and was alarmed by the number of pets that were abandoned in foreclosed homes, often without food or water.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOthers were forced into shelters\u2014their owners having no other choice. With the second-highest foreclosure rates and the second highest shelter-euthanasia rates, Maricopa County was experiencing a crisis and no existing service was designed to address the needs of both people and pets,\u201d Polanski says on her nonprofit\u2019s website.<\/p>\n
Smith started the pet food drive in 2022 with 30 businesses in Ahwatukee. Over time, she and other volunteers have expanded the effort across the region and even in other parts of the county.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cWe are trying to overflow the pantry shelves both for the community food pantry, but also the shelter pet food pantry,\u201d Smith said. \u201cWith the prices of food and gas, we are trying to help families keep pets in their homes instead of having to surrender them to local shelters.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe make it super simple for all businesses as we handle all logistics. delivery and pick-ups are on us. Businesses just need to encourage patrons and employees to donate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Items needed include dry and wet cat and dog food, cat litter, new toys, cleaning supplies, easy-walk harnesses, cat carriers, laundry detergent, and cat and dog treats.<\/p>\n
Smith has used her living room as a staging area for donations gathered by the businesses and has rounded up 111 businesses and other places to volunteer as drop-off locations.<\/p>\n
Among the many volunteers who have joined her effort Boys Team Charity, Hacienda Healthcare and the Lost Our Home Volunteers who stepped up to help deliver boxes and pick up donations.<\/p>\n
Polanski said Lost Our Home has saved over 40,000 pets and helped over 25,000 pet owners since 2008, adopting out over 12,700 pets and dishing out over 1.3 million meals to hungry animals.<\/p>\n