Southern Ocean County Animal Shelter’s pet food pantry relocated to Ocean Community Church

Photo via Google
The pet food pantry is now available
at Ocean Community Church.

Many communities can benefit from a pet food pantry, which is essential to helping residents in need of assistance caring for their pets. To gain a better idea of the local area’s pet supply needs, the Southern Ocean County Animal Shelter’s Community Pet Food Pantry has been relocated to Ocean Community Church, located at 1492 Route 72 in Manahawkin. Residents who cannot afford kitty litter, treats or wet and dry cat and dog food can pick up the necessary supplies at the church between 10 a.m. and noon on Wednesdays.

Having pet supplies available to the public free of charge helps keep animals from being surrendered to the shelter, said Connie Shinn-Lohr, a Friends of Southern Ocean County Animal Shelter board member and the group’s liaison with the shelter. The volunteer organization receives many calls from residents who are struggling to feed their animals and are therefore faced with the choice of surrendering them.

“We don’t want anyone to do that. It’s just as easy to get them some food, and with the community’s help we can all pull together,” said Shinn-Lohr.

Having a set day and time for distribution of the supplies at the church should help volunteers better regulate the program.

“It was hard to get volunteers just to sit there every day (at the shelter) and distribute food when they were so needed to walk the dogs and socialize animals,” said Shinn-Lohr.

She hopes the town will eventually set up a food pantry for residents in need of help caring for their family and pets.

Individuals looking to donate pet items can bring them to any of the four drop-off points: Uncle Will’s Pancake House and Grill in Beach Haven, Wally Mitchell’s Restaurant in Surf City (side door), as well as Lucky’s Bed and Biscuit and the animal shelter in Manahawkin. Pet food, treats, blankets, towels, beds, peanut butter and toys are also needed for the animals at the shelter.

For more information, contact Shinn-Lohr at deerwife55@comcast.net.

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.