AWA to take part in ACTS Day

Customers wait in line to pick up free pet food and supplies from the Animal Welfare AllianceÕs crisis pet food pantry at Poplar BluffÕs old Orscheln store Thursday afternoon.

DAR/Paul Davis

The Animal Welfare Alliance (AWA) will participate in ACTS Day on Wednesday, April 15, in hopes of gathering a new supply of pet food.

Any pet food donated will be given to area pet owners suffering financially because of layoffs or other problems created by the current virus emergency, according to a press release from AWA.

ACTS stands for All Caring Together & Serving and is an effort by leaders of several community groups.

AWA will be there to accept donations of pet food or cash to buy pet food have volunteers on site from 3-7 p.m. Wednesday at Three Rivers College. Organizers of ACTS Day will hold a drive-through drop off location here, also collecting non-perishable food, paper products, cleaning supplies, personal hygiene items, fabric and elastic (for making masks) for area residents in need.

AWA previously ran its Corona Crisis Pet Food Pantry for two days, April 2 and 4, and distributed pet food to 300 families in need.

That supply is exhausted, according to organizers, who hope to get enough donated pet food to reopen for one more distribution day.

Volunteers wearing masks and gloves at the drive-through donation site at Three Rivers will unload any and all ACTS donations so donors can stay in their vehicles. The donations will be shared by Meals on Wheels, the Bread Shed, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the United Gospel Rescue Mission, Deliver Hope and Northside Nutrition Center, as well as AWA.

Anyone wishing to donate money to buy pet food for cash-strapped families can also donate through PayPal on AWA’s website: www.awasemo.org.

The Animal Welfare Alliance of Southeast Missouri is registered with state and federal regulators as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations to AWA are tax deductible within IRS guidelines.