Kiddos. Kidlets. Little humans. Half pints. Tiny tots. Munchkins. Small fries. They see it all and they hear it all and they feel it all. Even if they don’t know it yet.

For some wonderful reason The Pongo Fund has become a safe haven for children. And that’s something we never expected. Because standing in line at a pet food bank would normally not be a family activity. But for many of our guests that’s exactly what it’s become. When parents bring their kiddos with them.

Sometimes because they have no choice. But more often because they do. And they choose Pongo. For the entire family.

Because The Pongo Fund has unexpectedly become their family’s spoonful of sugar in their fight against hunger. To feed both stomach and soul. By being there to give them something they cannot get anywhere else. Nutritious pet food for the animals they love. Because pets are family too.

We worried about them because we wanted them to never feel the pain of standing in line for food. We worried about them because we wanted them to be protected from life’s inequities for as long as possible. We worried about them because they’re just kids.

But one by one their parents told us it was ok. They told us that what we do is filled with such kindness and love that they wanted to bring their children along. To let them be part of something real. That coming to The Pongo Fund is a family outing just like other families might go shopping or to the movies.

And what once broke our collective heart now brings some of our greatest joy. Because if these young kiddos learn compassion at such as early age, just think how much good they will bring to the world as they get older? And maybe….just maybe…they will remember their Pongo Sundays.

Those Sundays when standing in line for great dog or cat food also included getting kisses from the world’s sweetest pit bull named Luna. She’s the dog in the photo. And she’s 100% sweetness.

Those Sundays when they laughed and smiled. Those moments in time when they giggled from their many sloppy Luna kisses. Those Sundays. Because wouldn’t it be wonderful if they remembered those Sundays with love?

And when they are older maybe they will be first in line to help the next family in need? Because they will remember what it was like to have someone else help them.

Thanks to our Secret Pongo Angels, people that donate to The Pongo Fund to help the kids, this holiday season The Pongo Fund quietly made sure that some of our community’s most fragile children found some extra wonderful gifts just for them. Books. Sweaters. Shoes and socks. Hats. Gloves. Some things basic. Some things fun. The only thing we missed was hearing the laughter that followed.

Because the laughter of a child may simply be one of the most beautiful symphonies ever.

Today is Sunday, December 28, 2014. And in just a few hours The Pongo Fund will open our doors for the last Pongo of 2014.

Being there for the kids. And the pets they love.

And this is why we Pongo.

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. Laugh. thepongofund.org