The Animal Welfare Alliance (AWA) temporary Corona Crisis Pet Food Pantry will be open as planned from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 4, in the former Orscheln store site next to Planet Fitness in Poplar Bluff.
Free pet food will be distributed to area pet owners who are suffering financially because of layoffs or other problems created by the current virus emergency. Recipients will be limited to residents of Butler, Carter, Ripley and Wayne Counties.
The first day of distribution was Thursday, April 2, when 225 recipients were served and pet food supplies were depleted.
But since then, area residents have contributed more pet food and/or cash to the project. So the scheduled Saturday distribution will go forward.
Families will be limited in the amount of pet food they can receive. Those who were served on Thursday will need to wait until next week for another allotment, according to AWA officers. Donors and recipients are asked to observe social distancing and to wear masks or bandannas as well as gloves (washable cotton gloves will do).
Planned days of operation for the pet food pantry are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 2 to 6 p.m., as long as the pet food supply lasts.
Information regarding the Corona Crisis Pet Food Pantry is available on AWA’s website, HYPERLINK “http://www.awasemo.org/”www.awasemo.org, as is a PayPal icon for cash donations. The Animal Welfare Alliance of Southeast Missouri is registered with state and federal regulators as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations to AWA are tax deductible within IRS guidelines.