HELP US KEEP PEOPLE AND PETS TOGETHER!
Please know that your donations help us deliver 200-400 lbs of pet food and supplies every week. Thank you for supporting our efforts to keep families together! Find out more about how Pet Meals-on-Wheels can help you, or learn how you can join the cause.
Pets provide unconditional love and emotional support to some of our most vulnerable in the local population, including but not limited to the unhoused. In honor of that bond, the OHS Pet Meals-on-Wheels (PMOW) program was developed to assist more pet owners in caring for and keeping their pets regardless of circumstance. The program expanded in 2019-2020 to address the needs of increasing numbers of local pet families who:
- Lost their jobs but were unwilling to give up their family pets
- Were forced to apply for low income support and have difficulty caring for their animals
- Became part of the sheltered and unsheltered homeless residents of the TriCity area
- Were forced to choose between living sheltered without their pets or living in an unsheltered environment
National organizations that collect statistics on homelessness estimate there are 3.5 million homeless Americans. Between 5%-24% of those homeless are believed to have pets, some for comfort and companionship, some for protection. An additional group of pet owners needing support are the homebound seniors, low income families, or those dealing with medical conditions, or who are sick or disabled. Researchers also have some evidence that those with little food will feed their pets before themselves, creating additional health concerns.
With an awareness of community needs of our pet families in Fremont, Newark and Union City, OHS PMOW joined forces with local community food banks, homeless shelters, and with those serving homeless encampments, homebound seniors, and disabled members of our cities. Each week PMOW receives by donation, bags, and distributes between 200lb-400lb of pet food and supplies, mostly for dogs and cats.
ARE YOU IN NEED OF PET FOOD ASSISTANCE?
Every week, OHS supplies pet food to several community partners who may have a limited supply of available food on hand. As supply and demand of pet food and supply donation levels may vary from month to month, we highly recommend that you check in advance with any one of these 4 distribution partners before heading over, or visit their website for further guidance. Distribution service hours and recommendations can also change due to holidays or other reasons.
DONATIONS
OHS is grateful to partner with TCV Food Bank + Mobile Pantry, whose resources allow us to optimize the donation receiving part of our program, thereby increasing the amount of families that we can support. Please always check back here at our website for any changes in our policies before making any donation drops to Tri-City Volunteer Food Bank. We do our best to honor the need that exists in our local communities, but also the value of our committed community partners- and all that they do in our collective aims to offer relief to those that need it the most.
DROP-OFFS
The following items can be dropped off to our partner organization, Tri-City Volunteers:
- Unopened dry kibble and undented canned food for cats and dogs with good dates only (large bulk bags of food and volume cases of canned food are especially preferred)
- unopened bags of cat litter
- NEW, unopened cat or dog supplies
- NEW small bowls and travel bottles
- NEW pet clothing, leashes, collars, grooming tools and blankets
These items can be dropped off to:
TCV Food Bank + Mobile Pantry
37350 Joseph Street
Fremont CA 94536
daily Mon-Fri 10:00am-2:00pm
PICK UPS
If you would like to donate from the convenience of your doorstep and wish to make a pick up request, please complete a Pet Pantry Donation Form.
OR
If you have any donations that are not on the “Drop Off” item list such as:
- gently used pet supplies
- gently used but clean pet clothing
- clean bedding in excellent condition only
- gently used equipment in excellent condition only
- pet food where the packaging has been opened or otherwise damaged
- something else simply not listed here
please fill out Pet Pantry Donation Form for review and possible consideration.
OTHER WAYS TO HELP
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
OHS is fortunate to partner with several community groups that help us expand our reach and support more families. From community outreach to logistic support, our program partners make it all possible. Thank you to our partners!
POUNDS OF DOG AND CAT FOOD DISTRIBUTED TO PETS OF LOW INCOME OR UNHOUSED FAMILIES
IN 2024
IN 2023
IN 2022
IN 2021