Laura Baran of BFAIR, left, Nicole McKeen of Berkshire Humane and Kayla Brown-Wood of Elder Services with a load of dog and cat food to be delivered as part of the Meals on Wheels program.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new component to the Meals on Wheels program is bringing pets and their owners together.
A partnership between the Berkshire Humane Society, Elder Services of Berkshire County, and Berkshire Family & Individual Resources (BFAIR) has established a pet assistance program for Meals on Wheels members.
Elder Services has been serving meals in Berkshire County since 1975 and, since 1994, has operated a kitchen on Route 7 in Lanesborough where the meals are prepared
Although Tuesday’s delivery consisted only of Dalton and Pittsfield members it will be open to all Meals on Wheels members in Berkshire County, including Lanesborough, Richmond, North Adams and Lee, said Elder Services Community Services Director Kayla Brown-Wood.
There are also several other towns in Berkshire County that they hope to expand into, Brown-Wood said. To be eligible for this program you must be part of the Meals On Wheels program.
With grocery prices rising, some pet owners are finding it difficult to feed their beloved animals and are sometimes forced to make sacrifices whether it be giving up their dog or finding their own food to feed their pets. animal, said the leaders of the pet assistance program.
“I think most people will feed their pets before they feed themselves. So, this helps reduce that from happening,” Brown-Wood said.
“It’s just a really great partnership and the idea is to help people who might not have the means to come here and visit the emergency pet food bank at the Berkshire Humane Society. and that need in the community.”
Animals are an important part of the household because they provide comfort and help with mental well-being, said Nicole McKeen, Berkshire Humane’s director of development and marketing.
“We’re all here probably because we have relationships with our animals in our households and you just don’t want to lose those members. We know that dogs, cats, and other pets in our lives are warm and wonderful. also. for our overall mental health,” McKeen said.
“Mental health is a huge issue and keeping your pet in your home can only help support that in a positive way. So, I think it’s really important that we make sure we provide food for to anyone who might be struggling or have that insecurity. so they can keep pets at home.”
Every first Tuesday of the month, participants of BFAIR’s Community-Based Day Services Program will load and deliver pet food to seniors.
The animals in our lives are family and should be cared for with their owners, said the program’s Senior Director Laura Baran, “And we’re happy to be a part of that.”
“[The pet assistance program] is just a great opportunity for us. I know that individuals are very, very excited about participating in this,” Baran said.
“We are very excited to partner with Elder Services and the Berkshire Humane Society and provide a service for seniors in our community to keep their pets at home.”
Tuesday’s deliveries were made to 29 Meals on Wheels members and 43 pets. The Humane Society donated 18 bags of 18 1/2 pound dog food, 29 18-pound bags of cat food, and a case of cat canned food.
The Meals on Wheels program and now the pet assistance initiative has been a “wonderful gift,” said Carol Lecours, Meals on Wheels and pet assistance program member.
“It’s amazing. With the cost of groceries and things today every little bit helps and it’s expensive but I appreciate it so much. It’s a great gift,” Lecours said.
CBDS program participants Hannah and Emilee Eichorn describe the pet delivery service as a great initiative and are grateful to be a part of it.
“I feel like it’s important to the community because we’re helping others,” Emilee Eichorn said.
The Berkshire Humane Society opened its Pet Food Bank in 1987 when it entered into an agreement with Hill’s Science Diet to feed that dog food brand to its shelter dogs. The Food Bank also has other donation brands that are given to community members in need.
“If there’s people out there having temporary issues, that’s what the food bank is for. They can come to the shelter than surrender their pet. Obviously, it keeps pets at home, pet retention. You know, that’s really what we have focused on going back to probably 1987,” said shelter Executive Director John Perreault.
One thing Perreault has in mind is how to improve access to this service to seniors who cannot visit the shelter due to mobility issues.
“I thought about the Meals on Wheels program where we have these talented people who go to people’s homes, not only giving them meals, but also some companionship,” Perreault said.
In January, Perreault contacted Elder Services’ Client Services Director Maureen Tudgey, who assembled a team to begin planning.
“We’re really excited about this, keeping pets in homes and working with not only Elder Services and Meals on Wheels, but also BFAIR who provide us with drivers and volunteers to make this happen,” said Perreault.
“So I always say in a lot of my talks and speeches, that it takes a village to make a difference and the great thing about the Berkshires is that we’re pretty isolated and we have a lot of people working together and it shows that so let’s make a difference.”
This initiative is just one example of collaboration within the Berkshire County community, he said.
“The Berkshire Humane Society reached out to Elder Services, which has a connection with BFAIR, and together those three organizations all work together to keep animals in some homes that are definitely deserving,” Perreault said.
Tags: Berkshire Humane Society, BFAIR, senior services, meals on wheels, pets,
