Our Mission: To provide food for pets of homeless persons in our community; offer education on pet care and spay/neuter; assist with access to veterinary care; foster respect for animals and the animal/human bond.
Help Us Make the Match!
A generous donor has offered to match any funds we can raise between now and the Fourth of July up to $1000.00! You can donate online (securely, of course) using the button below, or mail a check payable to Home Van Pet Care Project, Inc. c/o Elizabeth Howard, P.O. Box 14305, Gainesville FL 32604. These funds will feed a lot of hungry pets. Please help us make our match.
Wednesday is our big pet food day. It starts with a mid-morning pet food pickup, then re-bagging larger bags into four pound zip-lock containers, then loading everything into our vehicle.
Downtown distribution: Precisely at 2pm each Wednesday we park and distribute pet food behind Lynch Park, off S. Main St. in downtown Gainesville. Most of our clients there are housed, but very low income, including several veterans provided with V.A. housing, and some people who rent rooms or have help from family. There are several people still living in wooded areas around town, with and without permission. More people here have cats and are cooperating with Operation Catnip so all the kitties can be spayed, neutered, vaccinated and fed. Most people come on bikes, so we see the pets only at home visits, which is something we enjoy doing.
Dignity Village:On Saturday afternoons we go to Dignity Village/Grace Marketplace. Here we mostly do see the pets, and check on their well-being. The pet population seems to stay around 20 dogs and 6 cats, as people are always coming and going.
A downtown kitty at home..
Rocky, a Dignity dog, invites us to visit inside his tent.
All and all we are currently distributing 400-500 pounds of pet food weekly. Some is purchased with the aid of grant money from the Wagmore Foundation, our principal supporter, but we also get food from local agencies and individuals. Quite a lot is donated by bringing it to one of our drop off locations, listed at the bottom of this newsletter. Thrifty Critter gifts us with canned foods and various supplies and has shared the proceeds of a garage sale with us.
Our truck, loaded up for deliveries on Wednesday morning (left) and after our trip to Dignity Village on Saturdayafternoon.
More about Dignity Village
In March, puppies descended on Dignity, three of them with people who unfortunately didn't give them very good care. Within two months we had taken two of them into foster care. Fortunately, we were able to have them vaccinated, spayed and neutered and are considering permanent homes.
Also in March, we were visited by people we call the "scammers." Someone's mother had accumulated too many dogs so they decided it would be a good idea to dump some of them with the homeless community. Luckily, they selected responsible individuals and avoided anyone who might be abusive. These little dogs are safe and loved in their adoptive homes at Dignity:
Lola
Zeta
Since the beginning of 2018, EIGHTEEN new pets have come in to Dignity, and several into Grace. All are welcome at our monthly veterinary clinic, and we have managed to keep everyone vaccinated, spayed and neutered.
Our Wish List
Our list is long and we hope you continue to support us.
For our Disaster Preparation Project and for use when relocating to an inside home: Empty, clean kitty litter buckets, that we will pack with a supply of dry and canned dog or cat food as well as food and water bowls. We hope everyone gets a home soon for themselves and their pets. Also, we need new or gently used duffel bags and backpacks. These help people carry their pet food home without getting wet or spilling.
We need all sizes and strength of leashes, food bowls and water bowls for both cats and dogs.
Dry dog food, especially Purina Dog Chow in green bags. Dry cat food, especially Purina Friskies Seafood Sensation in blue bags. Fancy Feast canned food for cats because they love it, and Mighty Dog for dogs, because they love it and because the cans are small and can be used all at once, no refrigeration required.
Some final thoughts
The Home Van Pet Care Project has survived and prospered over the years due to wonderful supporters and volunteers. We continue to work hard with some amazing new volunteers: Trey and Paola bagging the pet food, Kiernan helping wherever needed, Ann and Paul helping with their van and carpentry skills, and our wonderful Dignity volunteers Ramona and Keith, who help with everything including with education and fostering.
Even so, we need more help! The only way to stay ahead of the wind is to have more volunteers. We especially need a flexible person for Wednesdays who can learn our whole routine with pets and people.
A wish for all of us: as I was driving around Dignity Village on Saturday, John Lennon's "Imagine" started to play on the car radio. I turned up the radio and stopped the car, windows down. There were four women who gathered around and we listened to "... I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will live as one." What better wish could we have for each other?
Thank you for all your donations and for supporting us with your good wishes.
Also, don't forget our Amazon Wish List! Or designate Home Van Pet Care Project as your beneficiary on Amazon Smile.
REG# CH38562. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE OR VISITING FLORIDACONSUMERHELP.COM. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.
