Partnership with Helen Woodward Animal Center to Help People & Pets

Published On: April 3rd, 2020By Categories: Partnerships1.8 min read

Feeding San Diego partnered with Helen Woodward Animal Center to provide meals at no cost for local pet owners and their furry friends through the center’s AniMeals program. The initiative began on March 23 and will continue throughout the month of April. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, pet-owners who are out of work due to the COVID-19 crisis can pick up two weeks worth of non-perishable human food along with a two-week supply of dog or cat food (maximum 3 pets) at Helen Woodward Aninal Center’s drive-through distribution.  

“Our organizations have something in common. We care about our community and their well-being. Feeding San Diego is thrilled to partner with Helen Woodward to provide nourishment to people in need during this challenging time,” said Vince Hall, CEO of Feeding San Diego. 

The AniMeals partnership helped more than 900 pet owners and their pets in March and it is expected that it will support an additional 5,400 in April. The popularity reflects the need for help during this unprecedented time of business closures, layoffs, and economic hardship.   

“We are happy to be even a small part of relieving some of the burden,” explained Fernanda Lopez, PR Manager at Helen Woodward Animal Center. “We know that pets provide their owners comfort, joy, and unconditional love. We want to make sure that pets can stay in the homes of their families despite the latest cutbacks and layoffs.”  

To comply with social distancing policies, the distributions at Helen Woodward Animal Center (6461 El Apajo, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067) are drive-through only, with staff placing bags of food into the trunks of vehicles. Pick-up appointments must be made ahead of time at animalcenter.org/animealsrelief. Interested recipients must have been recently laid off due to COVID-19 quarantines and closures.   

The expanded AniMeals Relief service is made possible thanks to support from Center friends Cliff and Chris Breining, Dick and Jan Hunter, Katie and Ken Shull, Dan Shea, Vince Hall, Blue Buffalo, and Naturally Fresh.