According Don’t Forget To Feed Me Operations Manager Maria Koegl,
“Don’t Forget to Feed Me envisions a community in which all pet owners can feed their pets.
“The American Pet Products Association reports that 67% of American households own a pet. According to Feeding America, one in seven Texans struggle with hunger. Tarrant County’s food insecurity is 18.1%, which is 2.7% greater than the national average. When people are faced with hunger, they often end up making tough choices. When they have a pet, that pet is often first to go in the name of putting food on the table. These decisions, while tough on the families, also lead to overcrowding at shelters, rescues at capacity, or pets just being abandoned on the side of the road. But it does not have to be that way.
“The mission of Don’t Forget to Feed Me Pet Food Bank, Inc. (DF2FM) is to supply pet food to local agencies in support of pet owners. By providing pet food for those in need during challenging financial times, we offer an alternative to surrendering —or worse, abandoning—a family pet. Don’t Forget to Feed Me helps to ensure that no pet owner must choose between stay…or go.
“DF2FM is the only organization of its kind in North Texas. Many local organizations focus on ensuring that humans have adequate food and nutrition; however, those same organizations say that a pet owner will often choose to go without food or medication to make sure their companion animal is fed. By providing pet owners with pet food, DF2FM not only ensures that owners are able to feed themselves but that pets receive food that is nutritionally appropriate for animals. By providing pet owners with pet food, DF2FM helps relieve stress on shelters, rescues, and local animal control.
“DF2FM has been participating in North Texas Giving Day (NTGD) since 2014. In that time NTGD has helped us raise over $100,000! That equates to over 250,000 pet meals. Together, we have been able to assist the area’s financially distressed pet owners. But the value of NTGD is more than just monetary. Through NTGD we have expanded our community presence and been introduced to other North Texas organizations that have led to collaborations assisting even more families in need. Just this year we connected with Helen’s Project at a NTGD/WFAA event and were able to fill in a gap for some pet-owning families receiving assistance through their programs.
“NTGD knows that helping our North Texas community is a group effort. Through fundraising, community, resources, and education, North Texas Giving Day ensures that all the organizations involved make a sustainable impact – together.”
* Photo credit: Calderon Photography ** Graphic/photo provided by Don’t Forget To Feed Me ***Photo credit: Jill Johnson Photography
In 12 years, Communities Foundation of Texas’ North Texas Giving Day has pumped more than $375 million into the North Texas community. In 2020, more than $58.8 million was raised through more than 106,000 donors benefiting over 3,200 area nonprofits.
On Thursday, September 23, support Don’t Forget To Feed Me by linking here and spreading the word. #NTxGivingDay