ASPCA delivery (Facebook)
June 15, 2020 By Michael Dorgan
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is donating thousands of bags of pet food to Queens-based organizations that will then distribute them to pet owners in need.
The ASPCA is partnering with the Queens Borough President’s office to provide more than 2,500 bags of dog and cat food to low-income families starting June 18.
The contribution aims to help families that are struggling to feed their pets.
Acting Queens Borough President Sharon Lee said that pet food has been one of the most commonly requested items at food pantries during the COVID-19 pandemic.
She said that it can be challenging for residents to feed their pets if they are already suffering economic hardship.
“Queens is deeply grateful to the ASPCA for this timely donation in our all-encompassing push to stem the tide of food insecurity,” she said.
The ASPCA and the Queens Borough President’s office will oversee the distribution of 2,520 combined bags of cat and dog food to 14 local non-profits and community-based organizations throughout the borough.
The various groups will then distribute the pet food from their respective pantries to Queens families in need. Collectively, there will be 1,260 bags of cat food distributed and 1,260 bags of dog food handed out.
Pet food is the third most requested item – after baby food and diapers – from the 15,000 families using the River Fund food pantry in Richmond Hill, according to the organization’s chief production officer, Dr. Otto Starzmann.
Starzmann said that the donation is of particular importance to seniors living alone, whose only form of companionship may be their pets.
The pet food is being distributed to River Fund and 13 other community-based organizations, which are all listed below.
- Commonpoint Queens — Sam Field Center in Little Neck
- Elmcor Youth and Adult Activities, Inc. in Corona
- First Baptist Church of Corona in Corona
- Harding Ford Vision, Inc. in Jamaica
- Hungry Monk Rescue Truck in Ridgewood
- Jamaica Community Partnership Program, a Sheltering Arms NY program, in Jamaica
- La Jornada in Flushing
- Latin American Intercultural Alliance in Richmond Hill
- New Greater Bethel Ministries in Queens Village
- NYCHA Redfern Houses in Far Rockaway
- Project Hope Charities, Inc. in Jamaica
- Queens Community House in Flushing and Forest Hills
- River Fund in Richmond Hill
- Rock Safe Streets, a Sheltering Arms NY program, in Far Rockaway
- Voces Latinas in Jackson Heights
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