DeLand pet food bank distributes 40,000 pounds of dog food
DELAND — J.D. Associates, LLC, a for-hire trucking company, doesn't usually store pet food in its warehouse.
That changed this week when more than 40,000 pounds of Natural Balance dog food were delivered to the DeLand warehouse through a partnership of Rescue Bank, a national pet food donation program, and Pet Project for Pets, Inc., a pet rescue based in Wilton Manors, just north of Fort Lauderdale.
Nearly two dozen nonprofits that help dogs benefited from the donations, which were made available for pickup Tuesday.
One such organization is The London Sanctuary, a hound rescue in Glen St. Mary, located halfway between Lake City and Jacksonville.
Jay Cannaday, president of the sanctuary, drove Tuesday morning more than 140 miles to the warehouse near the DeLand Municipal Airport where he picked up just under 1,700 pounds of food, a significant savings for his organization.
"This will have a huge impact on us," Cannaday said. "The type of food that they had today is exactly the type of food that (our dogs) need."
Tuesday wasn't the first pet food distribution rodeo for Sue Martino, executive director of the Pet Project. Free food for rescues means one less very important thing for these nonprofits to worry about, Martino said.
"Now they can do more vet care, now they can take in more animals," Martino said.
After struggling to find a good distribution location, Martino was connected with Jim Downer, president of J.D. Associates. The two were connected by Pam Clayton, chief financial development officer with Halifax Humane Society.
"He so graciously has offered us his warehouse. We’re able to receive food here, we’re able to distribute from here," Martino said. "He even lets us use his people and his forklift."
Downer, who had previously let Boy Scouts store popcorn for their fundraiser in the warehouse, said he was glad he could again help out a good organization.
Clayton said the forklift made a big difference in the amount of time it took to load up the trailers and U-Hauls that rescues were using to transport the food.
"We recognized a dire need for a local pet food bank to provide food to the homeless animals in our community and throughout Central Florida," Clayton said.
Martino, who's already supplied organizations with food from Rescue Bank from a site in South Florida, doesn't know what the next DeLand distribution date will be, but she already has her sights set on expanding.
"Watch out," Martino said. "North Florida’s next."