CAT’s mission is to work with our community to save the lives of homeless, sick and injured cats and kittens by offering shelter, adoption, foster, hospice, and veterinary services to end needless feline euthanasia in our community.
Feeding Cats to Keep them with the Family
The cat food bank is designed to help financially needy cat owners keep their furry friends. On the first Sunday of each month, CAT opens the food bank from 12-2 pm at their shelter, located at 14175 SW Galbreath Dr. in Sherwood. Download our Cat Food Bank brochure.
Volunteers distribute a month’s supply of free cat and kitten food for up to four cats per family on a first come first served basis. Cat litter may also be available. Recipients are simply asked to fill out a form, be receiving some financial assistance, and provide their own transportation to the shelter. Cats should also be spayed or neutered, but folks will not be turned away if their pets are currently intact. They will be given low-cost resources and required to show they have fixed their cats.
About the Cat Food Bank
Quick Facts
Next Distribution Day
Statistics
Donation Drop Off Locations
The Cat Adoption Team is experiencing a growing need for cat food and kitty litter donations as their monthly cat food bank experiences a huge annual increase in requests.
CAT’s PR & Cat Food Bank Manager, Kathy Covey, says the non-profit organization gave out 375 pounds of food when they opened the food bank in June 2008. Covey says, “In November 2008, when we were all told the country was in a recession, we saw a huge spike – 996 pounds given out. Then it just continued to grow from there.”
As CAT celebrated the one year anniversary of the opening of the food bank on June 7, 2009, the organization handed out over 1,840 pounds of food and ran out of the 716 pounds of litter they hand on hand.
In October 2009 alone, the Cat Adoption Team helped 108 families feed 333 cats (about 3 cats per family). CAT volunteer, Connie Snow says, “It is a great feeling for people to know they have a resource to help them in times of need so that they don’t have to give up their beloved pet.” Snow says she fears many of the cats would end up on the street or in shelters if it weren’t for the food bank.
The total amount of dry cat food given out since opening in June 2008 is a staggering 29,225.35 pounds. CAT started the New Year (2010) by providing over 2,100 pounds of food to feed 318 pet cats. This monthly distribution amount is not unheard of as 2,122.5 pounds was given out in December 2009 leaving just 6 pounds on the shelves!.
Super Bowl Sunday, February 7, 2010, was a record breaking distribution day in the food banks 21 month existance: 2,565.5 pounds. That was topped by March 2010’s distribution of 2,781 pounds!
Michelle of Wilsonville says of the food bank: “I very much appreciate the help that CAT gave me this month. I lost my job in December and was struggling to keep up with my financial responsibilities. I have four cats who I love like they were my children and your gift of food and litter made it so my cats would not have to go without this month.” Michelle used the food bank just one month and now has found a new job.
Tammy of SW Portland exclaims: “The cat food bank is a life saver. Thank you so much for all your continued help with caring for my cats.” Tammy is disabled and receiving government assistance. She’s been using the food bank for 8 months to supplement her benefits.
In September 2009, The Cat Adoption Team expanded the program to provide cat food to Loaves & Fishes in Beaverton. CAT is working with Washington County Meals on Wheels on a home delivery of cat food through Loaves & Fishes. Covey says this will help home-bound recipients keep their cats. Read more about this pilot program. So far, 757.5 pounds of dry cat food has gone to help feed these cats.
CAT’s food bank is one of the premier animal food banks in the nation. Their model has drawn requests from other shelters that want to know how the food bank operates. Covey says CAT is more than happy to help other shelters get organized so they can help pet owners in their community.
CAT is always in need of food and litter donations; in fact, donations of food are not keeping up with the current demand. Unexpired, unopened bags of cat food, canned food and scoopable litter can be dropped off at the shelter or one of their many drop-off locations. Cash is also accepted. This allows CAT to purchase food when donations don’t meet the need.
(Written by CAT supporter Jolynn Winter)
•Cat and kitten food only
•Distributed to cat owners in need of financial assistance
•Approximately one month’s supply of cat food given for up to four cats
•Open the first Sunday of the month from 12 – 2 pm
•Clients are helped for 5 consecutive months (with 2 month off before coming again), since the food bank is designed as a temporary stop-gap
•No transportation provided to CAT’s Sherwood shelter
•CAT’s Sherwood shelter address 14175 SW Galbreath Dr., Sherwood, OR
•Donations of unopened, unexpired dry cat/kitten food and canned cat food are welcome
•Donations of clumping cat litter also accepted
•Available to any cat owner in financial need regardless of what county they reside
•At this time CAT’s Cat Food Bank is designed to help cat owners, not feral cat caregivers or rescue organizations.
CAT does ask that all cats receiving food from the Cat Food Bank be spayed/neutered. If your cat is not fixed, CAT can provide information on subsidized surgeries when you come to the food bank your first time.
14175 SW Galbreath Drive.Sherwood, OR 97140.(503) 925-8903.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
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