HOLIDAY PAWS PANTRY SPECIAL BARKING LOT COLLECTION EVENT

Paws Pantry program organizers plan a three hour donation blitz event in North Canton

NORTH CANTON, Ohio, December 7, 2012 – In preparation for the December 18, 2012 pet food distribution event, Holiday Paws Pantry organizers will host a special Barking Lot pet food collection Sunday, December 16, 2012 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The goal of the Barking Lot event is to ensure that the program has enough donated pet food to meet demand from those in need. In 2011, during the first Holiday Paws Pantry, 4,900 pounds of pet food was distributed to 132 families. Organizers expect the demand for food to rise this year due to increased community knowledge about the one-day program.

The “Barking Lot” collection will be held in the parking lot of the future North Canton YMCA Child Care Center, 315 North Main Street—the former location of the Willis Motor Co. building, across the street from the North Canton Fire Department. This is the same location that food will be distributed from later the same week. “Jingle Paws,” the large inflatable dog, will be outside the building to help donors find their way.

Jennifer Harrington, owner of local graphic design company, The Ad Lab, and event organizer said “We want to make donating as easy as possible. At the barking lot collection, donors can simply drive up and we will unload their cars for them. They don’t even need to get out, and we’ll do the heavy lifting.” Harrington explained that while there are 27 locations with collection bins throughout the city, she hopes the blitz event will encourage some donors who may need a little reminder to donate.

The Ad Lab and North Canton Chamber of Commerce kicked-off the donation drive November 16, 2012 and donations have been steady, but a push for more food in the final weeks is going to be critical.  The program is organized in an effort to support the community and keep pets with their families.

The Holiday Paws Pantry follows a new trend of pet food banks that is emerging nationwide. In 2009, the ASPCA estimated that 500,000 to 1 million dogs and cats are at risk of becoming homeless because of the economic downturn.  Pet food banks are taking proactive measures to keep pets out of animal shelters and with the families who love them.  People depend on pet food banks for a variety of reasons like when losing their job, having their salary reduced, or finding themselves faced with an unexpected crisis.  The goal of the Holiday Paws Pantry is to make sure that pets in our community do not go hungry, to help pet parents keep their pets even in tough financial times, and to ensure that families who are struggling do not have to share their own meal with their pet and go hungry themselves.

Pet food will be distributed to families in need at the site of the future North Canton YMCA Child Care Center, 315 North Main Street—the former location of the Willis Motor Co. building on December 18, 2012 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  There is no preregistration required for families in need.  Food will be distributed on a first come first serve basis, and is not guaranteed.  The Paws Pantry will provide food for up to two animals/home and the amount of food supplied will be at our discretion pending the amount collected.  Any remaining food will be donated to local animal shelters and rescue groups.

Unopened wet and dry dog and cat food can also be donated at any of the participating locations:

• A Plus Travel
• A Wonder World Learning Center
• The Barrel Room Wine and Beer Bar
• Bead Boutique
• Booney and Pooch
• Caffé Gelato
• CKP Heating & Cooling
• CVS Pharmacy - N Main
• DeHoff Realtors
• Ermanno’s Legendary Pizza
• Farmers National Bank
• FirstMerit Bank
• ForPaws Blue Cross Animal Hospital
• North Canton Chamber of Commerce Offices
• North Canton Public Library
• North Canton Veterinary Clinic
• Premier Bank & Trust - Whipple & S Main
• The Canton Repository
• Stark State College-Business and Entrepreneurial Studies Division
• Veterinary Wellness Center of North Canton
• Viking Community Animal Hospital
• Walgreens – S. Main and Washington Square
• Walsh University
• Zoup!

Donations are also being accepted at: the following Canton Charge home games at the Canton Memorial Civic Center: 12/12 vs Fort Wayne at 7:00pm, 12/14 vs Springfield 7:30pm & 12/15 vs Iowa 7:30pm; and in Wrenn Nicodemo’s Senior English Class at Hoover High School. Additional support has been provided by barkstark.com, the Canton Browns Backers and the North Canton YMCA.

Additional information is available on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HolidayPawsPantry.