A large, cardboard box appeared this week in the lobby of my workplace. A sign above it asked employees to please donate cans or bags of dog and cat food to the local Meals on Wheels community.
Meals on Wheels serves healthy, nutritious meals to those who are most in need. While most people tend to think of senior citizens as the major recipients of Meals on Wheels, others may receive help, too. Meals on Wheels assist those who are temporarily or permanently homebound and unable to obtain nutritious meals, whether it is due to physical, financial or mental incapacitation.
In numerous local Meals on Wheels communities, caring volunteers recognized a need that had previously been overlooked. Many of the people they served were also pet owners. Some were facing the difficult decision of giving up their pets because they no longer had the means to properly care for them. Asking someone to give up a beloved pet can be as traumatic as asking someone to give up their own child (as many pet owners will attest).
Receiving the love and attention from a cat or a dog can drastically improve the quality of life for those who are suffering. Sometimes just knowing that there is another life to care for can bring new meaning and joy to people who are going through a traumatic time in their lives. It hardly seems fair that some people in dire need might be forced to give away their pets when they need them the most.
The Meals on Wheels Association of America formally recognized the need to provide meals not only for their clients, but their clients’ pets in 2005 when the WALOP (We All Love Our Pets) program was formed. WALOP now serves to educate and support local Meals on Wheels communities who wish to start their own pet care programs. For example, the Central Virginia Meals on Wheels chapter has begun their own Meals for Pets Program where people can donate pet food or money to help feed the pets of local Meals on Wheels recipients. You can contact your local Meals on Wheels association to find out if they have a pet care program and how you can best support their efforts.
This morning, I brought in a bag of cat food and put it into the donation box at work. It brought tears to my eyes as I did this, because that bag of cat food belonged to my beloved Raja kitty, who I lost earlier this year when he was tragically killed by a dog. The pain of losing my friend still stings deeply, and I hope that my donation will prevent someone else in need from losing their pet. I know Raja would be proud that I could make a difference for someone else.
Sources: Meals on Wheels Central Virginia (www.mowdelivers.com) and Meals on Wheels Association of America (www.mowaa.org)
