Christmas is Tomorrow. And a look back today. Because what we did then is what we do now. The names, the faces, they change. The need does not. Pride keeps it going.

The job, once a career, now gone. Unemployment, now gone too. Food stamps help but not nearly enough. And much of those food stamp benefits are used to create a lentil-yam stew from scratch. A special delicious stew for Meiko.

Because this 15 year-old incredibly dignified 100 pound yellow-orange fluffball chow-lab mix has been part of the family for 15 years. And the greatest worry right now is him. He is the soul of the family.

The cracked head and the coma were real. The Pongo Fund directly helps more animals than any other group in Oregon. Even on our shoestring budget we have become a national model for new ways to save lives and reduce shelter populations. This is a reminder of what your help means. A look back. A time to be thankful. Because then, it was a bloody mess.

She said a boy named Butters protected her in her dreams against the man that used a piece of steel to crack open her head like a coconut. She used those words. The boy is named Butters. He is a cat. A small cat. An old cat. Sadly the dream was real. So was the cracked head. And the coma. And the recovery of learning everything old as new again.

Ashamed. Sad. Angry. Broken both physically and emotionally. But alive. With a cat that was the last thing she remembered before the coma. A cat that stayed with her fighting to protect her. Yet here she was, unable to afford the food to feed the cat that saved her life. And that’s when she found Pongo.

She lived in a place where she was trying to regain some semblance of normal. But she laughed and said there really was nothing normal about life anymore. Just a series of moments that made up each day. None were easy. But some were better than others.

But the best ones, she said, were the ones that she and Butters laughed about. Laughing with your cat. What could be better than that?

She asked me if I knew how bad she felt to not be able to afford cat food. Or litter? She said out loud to no one in particular, “I can’t even afford to buy him the litter so he can poop with dignity!” Then she laughed. I just stood there frozen. Fighting to not cry.
Because my tears were not what this victorious woman needed.

She beat death. And now all she wanted was cat food.

But she had a story to tell. And God gave me two ears for that. And they were both listening.

The story did not contain a lot of words. But it was not a short story. It was the story of a lifetime. Only part of it was shared with me. But that was ok. Because I knew that Butters knew the rest.

And it was safe with him.

This was not a “pity me” sort of conversation. It was more matter-of-fact. Here was a woman who had been left for dead but was now embarrassed that her cat was hungry. She held up her hands and made the shape of a small ball and said “he’s only this big and I don’t even have enough food to feed him right now” and then she let her hands fall back to her sides.

There were so many thoughts racing through my head right then. And thank goodness none of them made their way to my mouth. Because my words were not needed there. Just being there was the most important thing. And having the cat food and litter with me that was so desperately needed.

What I really thought about was how brave this woman was to be talking to someone she did not know. But she did. She talked about other things too. Things she missed. Sweet things. Salty things. Simple things. Things the food stamps could not be wasted on.

She said thank you many times. Then she left with the cat food and the litter. The last thing she said was that she wanted to spoil her cat. But she said at least she had food and litter and she knew he would be ok with that.

Helping survivors of domestic violence is not uncommon for The Pongo Fund. One of the first days we were open brought us a woman with freshly blackened eyes and bruises. She said she was embarrassed to go out but she needed pet food. She smiled a little smile and said thank you as she left. But we knew even that little smile hurt her face.

Knowing we can help these women by helping their pets is our greatest reward. And next year we will expand our work to provide them even more help.

The next day we had a box delivered to where Butters Mom was staying. It was filled with sweet things. Salty things. And simple things. The simple things were the easiest to get but the hardest to give. Truly simple things. Just the basics. The stuff that most of us throw out every day. Shampoo. Soap. Toothbrush and toothpaste. Toilet paper. Stuff like that.

There were some other things too. And some gift cards for more personal shopping. And for Butters a scratching post. A new collar with some good luck charms. Two different food bowls so he could have one for wet food and one for dry because she said he liked that.

There was one more thing inside that big box.

Another box overflowing with more cat toys than I could count that I hope she just turned upside down and let explode into a pile all over the floor. Because she wanted to spoil her cat. And now she could.

Christmas 2015 is two days away. If you’d like to donate help us, and help more like Butters and his Mom, here is our secure donation link. Paypal:https://www.thepongofund.org/contact/donation-page/ .

The Pongo Fund is a pet food bank. But we’re here for Butters and the Mom who loves him. Helping them both heal.

And this is why we Pongo.

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. thepongofund.org

(Photo is not Butters; I did not meet him. But photo looks similar to the kitty she described)

Sniff Dog Hotel’s Kibble For A Cause is going on right now through the end of the year. And it’s just a fantastic way to make a difference for the hungry animals. This is a huge part of the work we do and will go far in helping us feed tens of thousands of hungry family pets that count on us to keep them safe at home and out of the shelters.

So please take a moment and stop by Sniff Dog Hotel and tell them you’d like to be part of “Kibble for a Cause.” Even better, this incredibly kind and generous family owned business will match all donations, meaning double the kibble for the hungry animals.

Thank you Dogster for naming The Pongo Fund a 2015 Dogster Hero. For reminding people that The Pongo Fund is Oregon’s Pet Food Bank. Because hungry people have hungry pets.

Our award-winning and volunteer driven group that began just six years ago in the back of a Chevy Trailblazer has already provided more than 9,000,000 high-quality meals for tens of thousands of starving animals. Keeping those beloved animals safe and well-fed and at home with their families, out of the shelters.

Even on a shoestring budget, The Pongo Fund directly helps more animals than any other group in Oregon. And we have become a national model for new ways to save lives and reduce shelter populations.

Giving a chance to animals that might not otherwise have a chance and giving hope to families that have little else to be hopeful for. Because sometimes a simple bowl of kibble is the force that both keeps a family together and saves the lives of the animals they love.

We do this work with you. We do it because of you. But most importantly, we do it together.

“It is not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.” – Mother Teresa

On behalf of all of us at The Pongo Fund, we thank you.

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. Dogster Hero Pongo. thepongofund.org

Story Credit: Crystal Gibson (thank you!)

#dogster #pongofund #petfoodbank #portland #charity #rescue

 

 

 

 

So many people shower so many blessings on The Pongo Fund. Without you, each and every one of you, we simply would not, could not, exist. Your donations of kind words, precious time, good energy, dog and cat food, money and more are simply the greatest gifts. Because what we do, we do together.

From the homeless man who gave $5 of his freshly collected bottle money to the young girl who gave two shiny quarters to the kind woman who baked cookies so we would drive a few hours away to visit her friend with too many cats who had not checked in for a week to the band of seemingly angry homeless teens who quietly approached me with handfuls of cash that amounted to not very much but was all they had to help save a homeless dog that they loved as one of their own.

As one of them softly said through invisible tears, “I don’t love. I don’t want to love. But I love this dog.”

Some of the contributions are in honor of others. Some are in memory of others. That goes for both two and four-legged alike. Some gifts are for food. Some for vet care. Some for spay-neuter. Some for the homeless. Some for Bella who got shot in the head. Some for Francis and Dutch.

Some for the innovative projects we have coming in 2016 and beyond. There are endless ways to give. All of them heartfelt and with meaning. You get the idea. You want to give? We have a way for you to do it.

But one of the most special contributions we receive is for something that most of us wouldn’t even think about. They named a musical after it, though.

Rent.

And for the past year and more before that, one person has stepped forward to make sure that our rent is covered each and every month. Because she too knows that we need a place to call home.

As December softly rolls to a stop, all of us at The Pongo Fund offer a special thank you to our Rent Goddess. Thank you for making sure we have a roof over our heads and our place to call home. Because Home Is Where The Heart Is.

With gratitude to you for your kindness, from all of us at The Pongo Fund.

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. Rent Is. thepongofund.org (FB 12/22/15)

It’s not what it seems. But that’s ok. Because it’s what’s on the inside that counts. And what’s inside these festive boxes are an assortment of handpicked goodies, small and essential, and packed with love by the kind folks at NIKE.

The Pongo Fund helps many fragile senior citizens. Many of them with big hearts but empty pockets. Meaning that some of the little things you may not even think about are well beyond their reach.

It’s not about politics or profits. It’s about things like flashlights with batteries. Throat lozenges. Kleenex. They may not seem exciting. Until you don’t have them. And that’s why these boxes are what they are.

Boxes of Love. 60 of them. Packed by hand, one at a time and given to The Pongo Fund to give to some of the wonderful folks that count on us. One of our Pongo Elf’s will make the deliveries this week. And although it is raining hard in Portland, these boxes will bring a bit of sunshine nonetheless.

Sometimes we do it different. But we still Just Do It.

And this is why we Pongo.

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. thepongofund.org

#nike #joy #portland #pongofund #charity #caring #justdoit

Green Dog Pet Supply is once again doing the spectacular and it’s happening right now with their Buy a Bag for Pongo Pet Food Drive. It’s running through the end of December and it is the largest single-store, high-quality pet food drive in Oregon.

Last year alone this one store raised more than six tons of food, 12,000 pounds, food that was shared with starving animals all across Oregon and Washington and sometimes beyond.

But that’s not all.

Some days it’s hard to share everything I’d like to share. Like today. So much to tell. And right now this moment belongs to my friend Ozzy. Because no one ever wore a birthday hat quite like Ozzy did. Although I never met him, I did.

Today this sweet boy celebrates his 20th birthday. But for the last four years our Alabama friend that lived Roll Tide has birthday partied across the Rainbow Bridge. But we still party together.

Ozzy was a true friend to many, including all of us at The Pongo Fund. He really was one of us. And we miss him.

When you arrive unannounced there’s no hiding the truth. And when Bella’s Family opened the door today I saw everything I needed to see. I saw LOVE!

Bugsy was the first to greet me, Bella right behind. The pink mark under Bella’s right eye is where the bullet entered, damaging her face, skull and knocking out most of the teeth on her right side.

They both smelled Scooby on my pants and the treats in my pocket. Bugsy was in front of Bella, he protects her that way. He wanted to be sure I knew that he was there and to not hurt her.

Bella the Pit Bull got shot in the head. Wounded, she still pursued the shooter. Not to hurt him. To kiss him. Because Bella is a lover, not a fighter. As she valiantly struggled to kiss the person who tried to take her life, luckily someone scooped her up and rushed her to the veterinarian. There she received lifesaving treatment, including four large drainage ports placed in her skull to prevent swelling.

But Bella’s owner was no longer able to care for her. So another family stepped in to save Bella, taking legal custody of her and her medical bills. But this family, we call them the Angels, they were already struggling.

A young couple with two small children already facing financial hardships. But Bella? They knew she needed help so they stepped in to help.

Without funds to pay the bill they applied for and received a high-interest 27% credit card loan for the thousands they owed for veterinary care. Interest that would kick in with penalties the moment they missed the first payment. But the money for that payment was money they did not have.

As is so often the case, it is those with the least that are willing to help the most.

The Pongo Fund learned about this situation when the family called us looking for wet food for Bella because she had lost half of her teeth and struggled to eat. Wet food they did not have the money to buy. Despite their many needs, all they asked for was some cans of wet food. And they even said they would pay us back when they could.

Further conversations helped us better understand the severity of their circumstances. But they never told us that directly. It was a series of questions and the humble conversations that ensued that helped us understand that these people who stepped in to help needed help themselves.

And that message was made even more clear when we talked about Christmas gifts for their two young boys. How would they celebrate the holidays?

And that’s when the Mother Angel explained that their family had already discussed this and decided instead of gifts for each other they would instead take what little money they could afford and buy yarn to knit hats and scarves for the homeless. So that is what they did.

In other words, their own gifts would come from the love they would receive from helping others.

The family delivered their gifts to the homeless in downtown Portland last week. They had 50 gift packs filled with handmade hats and scarves and several other special items too. And that night as the rain poured in Portland, the Mother Angel said her youngest boy came to her unable to sleep. He asked about the homeless people he had met earlier that day, he wanted to know where they would sleep in the rain.

His Mom hugged him and did her best to explain. And then he said he wanted to go back downtown and help them again. Maybe, he said, he could bring some of his own toys with him next time for the little kids he saw too?

We told you about Bella on November 26th, it was Thanksgiving. The original story is here: https://www.thepongofund.org/…/26/bella-got-shot-in-the-head/.

We showed a photo of Bella with four different drainage ports in her skull, each one working to relieve her swelling. Since then her recovery has continued and she is doing better. But now we begin to deal with the aftermath of possible neurological damage and more. Because no matter how brave this sweet girl is, there are some things that bravery and courage alone cannot heal.

The outstanding credit card bill in the thousands has arrived. It needs to be paid by December 23rd, just days before Christmas. When so many others will be feasting on gifts they do not need, this young family will instead be rubbing the soft belly of a dog they saved. And that is their greatest gift of all.

But back to that bill that needs to be paid. That’s where you come in. Because when we shared their story many of you followed up with donations and gift cards and more. Helping this family that did not even ask for help. That’s what you did.

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” — Leo Buscaglia

The Little White Envelope in the photo was designed by me and Scooby. I wrote the words, he drew the hearts. It’s not a Rembrandt. But it’s what’s inside that matters.

And inside that envelope is a check for $3,000 payable to the credit card company that will pay the outstanding bill in full. Ending the tremendous stress this young family is feeling, knowing that the first payment is due in just a few more days.

And they have absolutely no idea this is happening!

The envelope also contains some gift cards and cash that you sent us so this young family can enjoy a taste of the holidays. They will now have food for their table and maybe a few small gifts for their young boys. Something to remind them that the love they show for others will now come back to them.

A Little White Envelope filled with love thanks to each one of you who cares. Gifts that even came from an 8-year-old boy who wants to help other little boys.

“It is not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.” – Mother Teresa

I just got off the phone with the wonderful Mom. We talked about the holidays, about the $3,000 bill due on the 23rd. She kept changing the conversation back to the good that she sees. That Bella is happy and eating and sleeping well and maybe there is neurological damage but they will do all they can to find the cure. Even though they do not have a penny to pay for it.

I cry too.

Some of you tell me that my words bring you tears. Now you know it happens to me too. I’m not a social worker or counselor. I’ve not been trained to be stronger than the pain.

For me it’s real. I’m just one person that is part of The Pongo Family and we all join together to do what we can when we can. And helping these kind people that helped Bella is a good thing.

“Compassion counts above all else — more than intelligence, wealth, power or prominence. Those who have it, and extend it to all living beings, fully understand its potential to single-handedly change the world.” ~ Brennan Browne

In a little while Scooby and I and that Little White Envelope will be making the drive to surprise a family that has no idea we are coming.

For those of you who tell me I use too many words, I get it. I really do. I write with sentence fragments. My punctuation is not proper. And today is a perfect example. But I don’t care.

Because right now I’m going to wash my face, put on my Pongo shirt and load Scooby and the Little White Envelope into my car and make the drive to bring joy to a family who deserves it.

And each and every one of you will be going with us.

Because what we do, we do together.

And this is why we Pongo.

If there is anyone who would like to help with Bella’s continued veterinary bills or to help her family pay their bills, please click here:https://www.thepongofund.org/contact/donation-page/ .

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. Always With Gratitude. thepongofund.org

‪#‎givingback‬ ‪#‎charity‬ ‪#‎christmas‬ ‪#‎dog‬ ‪#‎pitbull‬ ‪#‎pongo‬ ‪#‎Portland‬