Brandywine Valley SPCA drive-thru pet food pantry set Jan. 18

The Brandywine Valley SPCA will hold its next drive-thru pet food pantry to help families in need from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., Monday, Jan. 18, at Sussex Academy, 122150 Airport Road, Georgetown. Free cat and dog food will be available while supplies last.

“Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a perfect day for us to be out helping folks in our community who may be struggling to care for their pets,” said Adam Lamb, CEO of Brandywine Valley SPCA. “With many families facing job loss or reduced hours during these difficult times, we don’t want them worrying about how they will care for the pets that are such an important part of their family.”

This will be the organization’s 12th drive-thru pantry held across Delaware and southeastern Pennsylvania, each one feeding 800 or more pets. The drive-thru format requires participants to drive up and remain in their vehicle while socially distanced staff requests information on household pets, then loads the pet food into the trunk or hatchback.

The pantries are part of the Brandywine Valley SPCA’s ongoing commitment to help prevent families from needing to surrender their beloved pets to a shelter for economic reasons. Since the start of the pandemic, the Brandywine Valley SPCA has distributed nearly 200,000 pounds of pet food to families in need. In addition to the drive-thru pantries, the Brandywine Valley SPCA has expanded its standard pet food pantry to be accessible anytime during shelter open hours from 12 to 7 p.m., Tuesday to Friday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday.

Donations to help the Brandywine Valley SPCA continue to supply pet food to families in need can be made at the shelters or via its Amazon wish list. The organization particularly needs cat food for the upcoming pantry.