Bay City News
Pet owners pulled up at Van Buskirk Park in Stockton on Tuesday morning as volunteers from the Stockton Animal Shelter distributed free pet food.
Started during the pandemic near the Stockton Shelter for the Homeless, the animal shelter’s volunteers distributed free dog and cat food to pet owners.
Volunteers Darryl Carter, Mary Komure, Ruthie Sims, Rita Brown and Martha Moreno now set up the pantry at Van Buskirk on the second and fourth Tuesdays every month.
Carter said about 150 to 200 cars come in for the pantry every time.
“We ask them how many dogs and cats they have and give them food accordingly,” Komure said. “We have a lot of repeaters every month, and they are very grateful.”
Komure said the shelter receives donations from places all over, including Amazon and Safeway. “We get the majority of our donations from Safeway,” she added.
Among the pet owners who came by seeking pet food were a few who were homeless who walked from the homeless shelter to the park.