Meals-on-Wheels of Johnson & Ellis Counties begins pet food delivery program

This weekend, a new program will begin in Waxahachie to help Meals-on-Wheels clients who cannot afford to buy pet food. “For a homebound person, a pet brings company, but not being able to feed that pet can be a source of heartache,” said Tracy Robinson, director of client services.

The “AniMeals” program is aimed at providing assistance to the homebound elderly and disabled who own pets and cannot afford to feed them. “It was found that clients were sharing their own meals with their pets,” said Robinson. For someone who depends on Meals-on-Wheels to meet their own nutritional needs, this could compromise the pet owner’s health, or force the pet owner to give a beloved animal away.

Beginning Saturday, routes will be picked up once a month to deliver pet food to over 20 Waxahachie and Palmer residents. Bow-Wow! Barbers located at 1300 W. Main, Suite 104 will serve as the pick-up point. Later, the program plans to expand into additional communities in the county, said Amy Jackson, director of development of Meals-on-Wheels.

“We are excited to add this much-needed program that will help our clients stay healthy and in their own homes,” added Jackson. Owning a pet, according to studies, can improve a person’s quality of life—decreasing illnesses and mortality rates.

Both Bow-Wow! Barbers and the Ellis County SPCA are partnering with Meals-on-Wheels to kickoff the new program. The program makes use of animal food donated to Ellis County SPCA and Meals-on-Wheels. SPCA executive director, Dana White, is thrilled to be involved with the new program to help the homebound and their pets.

Anyone who wants to be part of “AniMeals” may drop off donated pet food at the Ellis County SPCA, 2570 FM 878 in Waxahachie between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and can be reached at (972) 935-0756. Or, if you are interested in volunteering to deliver, please contact Meals-on-Wheels at (972) 351-9943 or on the web at www.servingthechildrenofyesterday.org.

Meals-on-Wheels is a community-based, non-profit organization serving the homebound elderly and disabled residents throughout Johnson and Ellis Counties for over 32 years.