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New program helps needy seniors feed pets
Officials with the Sheriff’s Department and Meals on Wheels meet in front of the nonprofit's headquarters in Suisun City Friday to announce a $1,750 grant check from Banfield Charitable Trust. Pictured are, from left to right, Lori Espinosa, operations manager for the local Meals on Wheels, Solano County Sheriff Tom Ferrara, Lt. Brad DeWall, Lt. Cathy Raymos and Meals on Wheels Executive Director Cathy Hall. (Robinson Kuntz/Daily Republic)
SUISUN CITY — A new program by Meals on Wheels of Solano County and the Solano County Sheriff’s Office is helping needy seniors feed their pets.
Meals on Wheels delivers food to seniors in the county. But until three months ago, seniors who were having trouble feeding their dogs and cats had no program to help them.
“I think it’s important to support pets and especially with seniors, because often pets are their only companions,” said Lori Espinosa, operations manager for the local Meals on Wheels.
Some seniors had to give up their pets amid the poor economy. Some seniors gave their own food to their pets, Meals on Wheels officials said.
The Sheriff’s Office got involved because it runs the county animal shelter. It uses its corrections staff and volunteers to deliver pet food once a month in a vehicle with Sheriff’s Office markings.
“The pet food and the human food can’t legally be delivered together,” Sheriff Thomas Ferrara said.
A $1,750 grant from Banfield Charitable Trust is giving the program a boost. The Sheriff’s Office has been using food donations from Sam’s Club, Costco and Tractor Supply in Dixon, as well as individuals, said Lt. Cathy Raymos, who manages the county animal shelter.
Meals on Wheels and the Sheriff’s Office announced the Banfield grant Friday.
Seniors sign up for the program through Meals on Wheels. The Sheriff’s Office has been delivering food to 47 seniors, but Espinoza said the latest sign-ups will bring the number to 100.
People who want to donate pet food to the program can bring it to the animal shelter at 2510 Clay Bank Road in Fairfield. The shelter is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
Reach Barry Eberling at 427-6929 or beberling@dailyrepublic.net. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/beberlingdr.
Barry Eberling
Discussion | 1 comment
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Rich GiddensFebruary 16, 2013 - 12:43 pm
The people of California really believe that government exists to provide all things to all people. You guys actually love your welfare state and police state---each cancelling the other out! I notice the emphasis around here and no end of hearing about it is ''do--goodery'' instead of economic expansion and job creation. The emphasis should be on economic development and expansion. The first order of business should be your roads and highways that are critical for economic development. Instead, the emphasis is on growing a police and welfare state while business, industry, jobs and families repeatedly tell you ''sayonara sucker'' caio clueless, adios amigo, arreviderchi, auf weidershen, etc
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