WeCAN Receives Pet Grant

WeCAN is proud to announce that it has received a $1,000.00 grant from Meals on Wheels America to support its pet assistance program. Funding will be used to provide food, supplies and care for the pets of area clients, which can often be a financial and physical challenge for clients to do so on their own.

“Our pet assistance program helps to ensure that our clients’ pets are healthy and receive nutritional meals,” said WeCAN Executive Director Christie Larson. “Having a pet in the home can contribute to a client’s well-being and help him or her feel less isolated.”

In total, Meals on Wheels America has granted over $200,000 to nearly 100 local Meals on Wheels programs through the Meals on Wheels Loves Pets initiative this year. Funding is made possible in part through a donation from the former Banfield Charitable Trust. To date, the grant program has distributed more than $2.4 million in funding and pet food donations.

“While pets are invaluable companions to homebound seniors, positively impacting their health and well-being, they can also be a challenge to care for alone,” said Meals on Wheels America President and CEO Ellie Hollander. “The Meals on Wheels Loves Pets program enables WeCAN to provide pet food and other necessary services to ease some of that burden and make it possible for local seniors and their beloved pets to stay together.”

About Meals on Wheels America

Meals on Wheels America is the leadership organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior isolation and hunger. This network serves virtually every community in America and, along with more than two million staff and volunteers, delivers the nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks that enable America’s seniors to live nourished lives with independence and dignity. By providing funding, leadership, education, research and advocacy support, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time. For more information, or to find a Meals on Wheels provider near you, visit www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org.