For more information contact:

Jerry Baldoz, Director

Yakima County Senior Nutrition

jerry.baldoz@co.yakima.wa.us

509-574-2200

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Yakima, WA – March 17, 2009 “MEALS-ON-WHEELS FOR PETS”

ESSENTIAL NUTRITION DELIVERED TO SENIORS…AND THEIR PET…COMING IN APRIL.

New volunteer/business partnership mitigates financial dilemma faced by many senior pet-owners who live on a fixed income.

Manning Dog Training and Critter Cab recently created a partnership with Yakima County’s Senior Nutrition program to provide a much needed service to the senior citizens of Yakima County. Beginning April, 2009, the County Meals-On Wheels program will deliver pet food along with senior’s meals.

IT’S A FACT: SOME SENIORS DO WITHOUT FOOD AND MEDICATIONS TO FEED THEIR CATS AND DOGS.

For many of our home-bound seniors, a pet is their only companion – the only barrier between chilling loneliness and serious depression. Everyone is affected by today’s uncertain economy, but none are hit harder than seniors on a fixed income or meager pension. All too often, America’s senior citizens are making harsh, sometimes life threatening, decisions on how to budget their cash. We’ve all heard the stories of the elderly woman who “shares” her nutritiously balanced “Meals on Wheels” meal with her dog. Or the senior gentleman who no longer takes his blood-pressure medicine so he can feed his cat.

Yakima County Senior Nutrition / Meals-On Wheels director, Jerry Baldoz explains how “Meals-On Wheels for Pets” began:

“I was contacted a couple weeks ago by Jane Bumgardner (Manning Dog Training), Rene Jarvis (Critter Cab), and volunteers Lisa Nesvig and Jean Rodgers about a similar program in Oregon. Because of their love of animals and concern for our seniors they wanted to see if this kind of project could work in Yakima. After some brainstorming we decided it could work and everyone committed to getting it going. To gage community support we approached Chris Brown from Wray’s Thriftway to see if his of stores would be willing to help out. Chris’s response was exciting and encouraging. Not only did he agree to help – he started us out with two large bags of dog food and a commitment to help us on a regular basis.”

Here’s how it works:

• Yakima County Senior Nutrition program (Meals-On-Wheels) staff will survey current “Meals on Wheels” recipients to identify needy dogs and cats.
• Donated dog and cat food will be collected at Manning Dog Training, 1008 W. Ahtanum Road, Union Gap.
• Large donations will be picked up by Critter Cab.
• Volunteers will package the food into two-week portions and the Meals-On-Wheels program will deliver the pet food when they deliver the senior’s meals.
• No Senior Nutrition Program funds can or will be used for this project: “Meals-on-Wheels for Pets” is operated entirely on donations and volunteer efforts.

Here’s how you can help

• HELP SPREAD THE WORD! Tell family and friends about Meals-For-Pets and the need for donations.
• When shopping, buy one or more bags of your favorite pet food to donate.
• Drop off dog and cat food (or cash donations) to Manning Dog Training, 1008 W. Ahtanum Rd, Union Gap.

• Contact Jane, Renee, Lisa or Jean at 509-574-4008 to arrange a time to drop off your donation.