Boxes of donated pet food, cat litter and pet beds were stacked up inside a Virgil garage last Saturday, where volunteers ran their second annual Valentine’s Day pet food drive for Newark Neighbours food bank clients.
Organizer Tanya Rice said the Community Initiative for Animal Rescue collected 679 pounds of pet food, treats and litter, plus 14 pet beds, and converted cash donations into $260 in Pet Valu gift cards to cover shortfalls.
The goal was to help low-income residents avoid a choice between feeding themselves and giving up their pets, with Newark Neighbours receiving more pet owners through its doors, in need of support.
“There are people who already have those food insecurities and are trying to feed themselves, but pets are an extension of the family,” Rice said. “They add comfort in a time of need and companionship.”
The drive reflected a local shift toward treating pet food as part of food security, as more residents rely on food banks and face rising costs tied to keeping animals.
The animal welfare group coordinated with Newark Neighbours for a year to tailor what it collected, including supplies that can be harder to cover through donated food. The gift cards went toward items such as litter or specific foods when a gap appears.
Erika Buchkowsky, a volunteer and fundraiser with the group, said the drive aimed to keep pets with their owners when household budgets tighten.
“We don’t want them to give up their pets,” Buchkowsky said. “We want them to be able to feed their pets while also feeding and supporting themselves.”
Stone Road Dental also ran an in-office pet food drive, which contributed to the Community Initiative for Animal Rescue’s total after Buchkowsky approached the clinic. Dr. Kimberley Hill and her team collected donatable items in about a week, including cat and dog food, treats, toys, cat litter, and a large gently used dog bed.
Donors arrived throughout the day, some carrying 50-kilogram bags of pet food. Volunteers helped donors unload their vehicles and sort supplies.
Marie Scarland-James, who donated some pet supplies to the group, said she came out after hearing about the drive from volunteer Carolyn Greenfield and wanted to show support for the volunteers behind it.
“Even though you don’t have much money, a pet may be very important to you,” Scarland-James said. “You might need a bit of help feeding them.”
This year’s results surpassed the group’s first Valentine’s Day drive, which Rice said was organized in three days and collected 610 pounds of pet supplies. The 2026 drive collected 14 beds, including seven custom dog beds made and dropped off the day before by a woman who recently retired from General Motors.
The event also offered a hot chocolate bar and baked goods generously provided by Erinn Lockard from Sweets & Swirls, as well as some extra items from Coconut Quartz jeweller Cheryl Chiarelli.
The Community Initiative for Animal Rescue plans to repeat the Valentine’s Day pet food drive as long as Newark Neighbours Food Bank needs support.
