Season of Suppers Strives to Double Pet Food, Monetary Donations in 2009

PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- The Banfield Charitable Trust, in partnership with Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) and Banfield, The Pet Hospital®, is helping feed hungry Pets this holiday season with its annual Season of Suppers campaign, a national Pet food drive, which runs Sunday, Nov. 1 through Thursday, Dec. 31. The Season of Suppers campaign, now in its fourth year, aims to feed Pets of homebound seniors who receive meals from Meals On Wheels.

The Banfield Charitable Trust is hoping to double monetary donations in 2009 to fund, or start, new Pet feeding programs through We All Love Our Pets (WALOP) grants. During the 2008 campaign, the Trust raised $42,000 in monetary donations, which funded more than 50 WALOP grants. Meals On Wheels programs throughout the country can apply for these grants to initiate or sustain Pet-food distribution programs locally.

"Season of Suppers touches many people's hearts, and it is a joyful time for everyone involved," said Dianne McGill, executive director and chief executive officer of the Banfield Charitable Trust. "When we first started this campaign, we never imagined how quickly it would grow. The support from volunteers and MOWAA program directors has exceeded every goal we envisioned for the program's growth. We are humbled by the generosity donors have shown with their support, especially given our difficult economic times. We hope to meet the increased need with even greater participation this year."

In addition to the money for WALOP grants, the campaign also collected thousands of pounds of Pet food that local Meals On Wheels programs distribute. Banfield alone collected 13,000 pounds in 2008 at its main campus in Portland, Ore. Across the country, more than 750 Banfield hospitals act as food collection donation sites.

"MOWAA's mission is to eradicate senior hunger by 2020. That is our focus, and we do it one day at a time, one nutritious meal at a time and one senior at a time," said Enid A. Borden, president and chief executive officer of Meals On Wheels Association of America. "One thing we have seen firsthand is how important Pets are to these homebound seniors. In many cases, their Pets are their only family. It goes without saying that keeping Pets as nutritionally healthy as their owners is critically important. In more cases than we can count, the Season of Suppers campaign has made that possible - and a home is a much brighter place when the whole family gets the nutrition they need."

There are three ways to help make the 2009 Season of Suppers campaign even more successful:

1. Purchase Pet food and place it in the Season of Suppers donation bin in any Banfield Pet hospital. The BCT suggests items that are easy to transport, such as small bags and cans.
2. Donate money at Banfield Pet hospitals. During November and December, Banfield Pet hospitals are collecting Pet food and monetary donations in more than 750 hospitals nationwide. To find your nearest Banfield location, visit www.Banfield.net
3. Contribute online at www.BCTSOS.org by clicking the "donate now" button. Your donation of $30 will help Meals On Wheels programs feed one Pet for an entire month.
   

About the Banfield Charitable Trust
Banfield Charitable Trust, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity founded in 2003, was founded in response to Banfield associates' requests for a way to take Banfield's vision of treating Pets like family beyond the walls of the hospitals. In addition to providing preventive care to clients in need, the Charitable Trust also supports childhood education about caring for Pets, veterinary education program, and programs to enhance the family-Pet bond.

About Banfield, The Pet Hospital®
Founded in Portland, Ore., in 1955, Banfield has become the largest Pet general veterinary practice in the world, with more than 750 hospitals in neighborhoods across the United States. More than 2,000 veterinarians at Banfield are committed to giving Pets the highest quality of veterinary care. Banfield hospitals offer a full range of comprehensive medical services, computerized medical records, preventive care plans for Pets and extended operating hours. Banfield is the only veterinary practice in the world with an extensive quality assurance program. Banfield, The Pet Hospital helps extend the lives of millions of Pets each year through our Optimum Wellness Plans. For journalists seeking more information, please visit our press room at http://www.banfield.net/press-room or contact our Media Hotline at 888-355-0595 (no sales calls, please).

    Media Contact:
    Brett Rolin
    brett.rolin@banfield.net; 503-922-5414
    Banfield, The Pet Hospital(R) Media Hotline, 1-888-355-0595