Animal Food Bank Gets New Leadership

At the end of March, a changing of the guard occurred at the Animal Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley, a local non-profit organization that is a unique resource for local pet owners who have fallen on hard times. The change occurred when Judy McHugh stepped in as president, after  resigned due to health issues.

McHugh has been a volunteer with the organization for several years, most recently serving on its board of directors, as well as serving as the volunteer coordinator in the past, she said. She hopes to streamline the organization and run it more like a business, she added, but hopes to find more volunteers to aid with the transition, which she characterized as a bit bumpy so far. 

“I’m now in this neck deep,” McHugh said. “Logistically, right now it’s kind of a nightmare.”

McHugh said the food bank has dedicated volunteers, but could really use some more help.

“I love people who can think for themselves and can step in and make decisions,” she said.

She’s looking for people who can write grants, handle fundraising and corporate sponsorship, coordinate events, organize educational programs, and someone interested in community outreach, McHugh said. People full of ideas and energy would be a welcome addition. Her reason for volunteering is summed up in her favorite quote by Mahatma Gandhi: “You must be the change you want to see in the world.”

“You can be a part of the process,” McHugh said.

Adding to the challenges McHugh is facing is that at about the same time that Segaline resigned, Northampton Community College told the organization that it needs to relocate.

Currently, the food bank has offices in the basement of the Fowler Family Southside Center in Bethlehem, which has also served as a distribution location. The college is expanding its daycare offerings to students, and needs more space, she said.

McHugh agreed that distribution really does need to move elsewhere, but said she hopes to keep the food bank's offices at the Fowler Center for a little while longer. Her dream is to someday have a building with a loading dock, and offices for several animal resource organizations, she said. It would be a central location where people could access several services. McHugh even envisions the complex including a gift shop, whose proceeds would benefit all of the resource centers located there.

Currently, the AFBLV's stocks of pet food are being stored in a warehouse, but it has to be transported to a distribution point every Friday. McHugh said she doesn’t have distribution points set up for the entire summer at this point, but she is considering using an undetermined parking lot or possibly local food banks that cater to human clientele.

Right now, McHugh said she is trying to find a building with at least three rooms--one for storage, one for an office and one which would be used as a waiting room by the food bank's clients, who include local pet owners in need of economic assistance.

“Our mission is to serve people and make sure their pets aren’t going hungry,” McHugh explained.

One criterion is that the food bank's new space be centrally located to Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton, since many of the food bank's clients use public transportation, she said.

To help feed pets in need, the Animal Food Bank relies upon donations.

The organization currently feeds between 1,400 and 1,600 animals per month, McHugh said.

Clients of the food bank have to register their pets before receiving food, and they cannot register additional pets later.

McHugh said that part of being a responsible pet owner is being able to provide for the animals one already has. If a person is having trouble feeding the pets they own, then they shouldn’t be bringing more animals into the household.

“My basic premise is to do what’s best for the animals and promote responsible pet ownership,” McHugh said.

Every week, AFBLV spends $300 on animal food and supplies with money the organization received in a grant. They also receive donations from companies and individuals.

If the food bank has the brand of pet food that someone uses, then they will try to give them that brand, McHugh said. Otherwise, people get what is donated.

“Dog food is donated by the ton, but cat food is expensive. It comes in and it’s pretty much gone,” McHugh said. “We figure that what we give you should keep you for a half a month.”

Another aspect of responsible pet ownership is getting pets spayed or neutered, McHugh said. She learned the importance of this during her professional life as a veterinary technician. The AFBLV helps clients with this task by directing them to low or no-fee spay or neuter veterinary services.

For more information about the services available through the AFBLV, contact them atanimalfoodbanklehighvalley@yahoo.com or by phone at 484-851-8000. Their website iswww.animalfoodbanklehighvalley.com.

Additional Animal Rescue Resources:

Absolutely Purrfect Cat Rescue: 610-782-9335 www.purrfect.petfinder.com

Animals In Distress: 610-966-9383 www.animalsindistress-pa.org

Cats Peek Rescue: 570-778-6886

Feline Urban Rescue & Rehab: www.felineurbanrescueandrehab.org

Forgotten Felines and Fidos: 610-760-9009 www.forgottenfelines.org

Furry Feet Rescue: 610-438-5654 www.furryfeetrescue.com

Itty Bitty Kitty: 610-973-7400 www.ittybittykitty.org

Lehigh County Humane Society: 610-797-1205 www.lehighhumane.org

Linda Ann’s Greyhound Rescue: 610-395-7824 www.lindasgreys.com

Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League: 610-983-9445

One By One Animal Rescue: 484-839-2019 www.1by1catrescue.org

Peaceable Kingdom: 610-432-2532 www.lvpeaceablekingdom.info

Pets In Need: 610-759-6879 www.pets-in-need.org

Pocono Greyhound: 570-856-0377 www.poconogreyhound.com

Ran Too Slow Greyhound: 610-435-1317 www.rantooslow.com

The Cat Shack: 610-967-9097 www.thecatshack.com

The Center For Animal Health & Welfare: 610-252-7722 www.healthyanimalcenter.org

The Sanctuary At Haafsville: SanctuaryPA@yahoo.co

Low-Cost Spay and Neuter Programs:

No Nonsense Neutering: 866-820-2510, 1044 N. Quebec Street, Allentown

Animal Rescue League: 866-820-2510, 58 Kennel Road, Birdsboro

Eastern Pennsylvania Animal Alliance: 570-994-5846, Lower rear of Rainbow Plaza, Route 209, Brodheadsville

Center for Animal Health & Welfare: 610-252-7722, 1165 Island Park Road, Easton

Provides Financial Help with Spay, Neuter and Emergencies:

No Kill Lehigh Valley: 484-554-5048, nokill.lehighvalley@yahoo.com, P.O. Box 4272, Bethlehem