The Pongo Fund Pet Food Bank provided urgently needed pet food for more than 400 people and pets on Sunday, our first pet food bank of 2013. But that was just the tip of the story.
Because the real story began several hours earlier when we arrived at our warehouse and found a line of folks already waiting. They were waiting a full four hours before we even open. And the temperature at that time was just 28 degrees.
When asked why they arrive so early and wait in the cold, one Pongo guest told us that her 12 year-old dog was her only family, and knowing she would be able to feed him kept her plenty warm. She said that for her, every day at The Pongo Fund felt like a warm, sunny day and the cold weather was a small price to pay.
We felt warmer too, just hearing her say that.
The real story continued as 30 Pongo volunteers began to arrive and prep the warehouse for the day. Volunteers that range in age from 12 – 68 years old, each one filled with love and compassion and ready to work hard for the more than 400 people and pets that we would be helping. But that’s not all.
Because in addition to those several hundred people and pets, there were 12 different food banks and pantries that also arrived to receive pet food for the hungry animals belonging to their thousands of clients. These 12 groups rely on The Pongo Fund exclusively because no one else does what we do.
Twelve groups that are just a fraction of the more than 100 food banks, pantries, shelters and rescues that have received pet food from The Pongo Fund. But that’s not all.
Several of the people waiting in line had questions about their pets, questions best answered by a veterinarian. And that’s exactly what we have most Pongo Sundays, a kind and patient veterinarian happy to talk with people about whatever they want to discuss. And yes, there’s still more.
The truth is we can go on and on and on about the work that we do. But we won’t, because it’s simply too hard to write about some of the things that happen behind the scenes. Like the emergency call we just received from an official agency in Washington, DC, alerting us to a situation that needed immediate attention.
Could we help right away, they asked? Of course, we said. And 24 hours later we had done our job and all was good.
We are proud to be The Pongo Fund Pet Food Bank. We thank you for being our strongest supporters, our biggest fans. Because without you, there is no us. And by working together, maybe someday each and every hungry animal will have good food for their dinner. Safe at home and not in a shelter.
We wish you peace, love and kibble…from all of us at The Pongo Fund. thepongofund.org