New This Month
News & Events
Sign up for the Banfield newsletter
Sign up for the Banfield e-newsletter for information on Pet healthcare, seasonal tips, advice and special offers.
Season of Suppers Campaign Begins Nov. 1
Season Of Suppers®, “A Pet Food Drive For Pets In Need” aims to help more seniors and their Pets fight hunger
National initiative encourages communities to reach out and donate this November and December to help local seniors with Pets stay nourished year round
Portland, Ore. —Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008—For some seniors, getting around easily is not an option. Often, their best friend and only companion is a loving dog or cat. The Season of Suppers campaign, now in its third year, calls attention to the importance of Pets to the well-being of homebound seniors. Helping keep these companion Pets well fed, healthy and part of the family for as long as possible became the motivating factor behind the partnership among Banfield, The Pet Hospital, the Banfield Charitable Trust (BCT) and Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA).
Phil Shippers, director of the Visiting Nurse Meals On Wheels program of Rochester, N.Y., knows the importance of getting the message out that homebound seniors with Pets are a vulnerable population.
“We know that many seniors in our community are compromising their own nutrition by sharing their meals with their Pets,” says Shippers.
“Awareness and action are key to preventing this from happening” says Shippers, who began a Pet feeding program in September through partial funding from a $1,000 grant from the Season of Suppers campaign. “In the short period of time since we started a Pet feeding program, we have seen great interest and support from not only our meal recipients but the greater community as well; we strongly believe this support will continue to grow and help us enhance the lives of seniors.”
Making a significant impact for seniors and their Pets
Last year, Banfield’s Season of Suppers campaign raised more than $51,000 to help 50 senior meal programs start or augment Pet feeding programs across the country.
“Since the first Season of Suppers campaign over 100 Meals On Wheels programs have started Pet feeding programs, “says Enid Borden, President and CEO of MOWAA. “While companion Pets are the direct beneficiaries of this campaign, homebound seniors are helped as well – and that’s MOWAA’s primary concern. Before the Season of Suppers campaign, many of these seniors lacked access to Pet food and were sharing their own meals with their Pets. Now, both seniors and their Pets are getting proper nutrition. It’s a win-win.”
Banfield’s 2008 Season of Suppers campaign takes place throughout Banfield’s more than 730 Pet hospitals across the country, beginning Nov. 1, 2008, and continues through the end of the year. Supporters can drop off Pet food or make monetary donations at any local Banfield.
Senator Ron Wyden, leading the charge for seniors and their Pets
United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), a champion of health and human services for senior citizens, will serve as the official campaign spokesperson. Senator Wyden began his professional career as an advocate for seniors, founding a legal clinic for the elderly and co-directing the Oregon Grey Panthers; an organization dedicated to working for the social and economic justice and peace for all people.
“The companionship of Pets provides significant benefits for homebound seniors,” says Senator Wyden. “As their social interaction with those outside of their home is limited, their Pets become a very important part of their family. Banfield, the BCT and MOWAA are working together to make sure that the time seniors spend with their Pets is as long and fulfilling as possible.”
NEW this year—2008 Season of Suppers Pet-themed note cards
In addition to donating Pet food and monetary contributions at local Banfield hospitals, supporters can participate in the campaign by purchasing full-color, Pet-themed note cards. A packet of eight cards will be sold for $10 and all of the proceeds from the note card sales, as well as monetary donations throughout the campaign, will be used to improve the lives of MOWAA recipients and their Pets.
Supporters may also purchase cards by contacting the Banfield Charitable Trust at (503) 922-5801 or writing to info@banfieldcharitabletrust.org
How the story began
After realizing that, like their owners, the Pets of many MOWAA recipients were in need of nutritious food, MOWAA launched We All Love Our Pets (WALOP). This initiative enables local Meals On Wheels programs to begin or sustain Pet food programs to nourish the Pets of seniors.
The Banfield–MOWAA partnership is the first initiative of its kind on a national level—it aims to feed all Pets of MOWAA recipients.
“We are truly honored to help support MOWAA’s WALOP program through the collaboration of Banfield, The Pet Hospital, the Banfield Charitable Trust and MOWAA and our Season of Suppers campaign,” says Sandra Campbell, President, Banfield Charitable Trust. “The success of this campaign continues to grow each year.”
About Banfield, The Pet Hospital®
Founded in Portland, Oregon, in 1955, Banfield has become the largest Pet general veterinary practice in the world, with more than 730 quality hospitals in many neighborhoods across the U.S., in the U.K. and in Mexico. More than 1,500 veterinarians at Banfield are committed to giving Pets the same level of care that their human family members receive. Banfield hospitals offer a full-range of comprehensive, medical services, computerized medical records, Pet preventive care plans, extended operating hours, and is the only veterinary practice in the world with an extensive quality assurance program. Banfield, The Pet Hospital helps extend the lives of millions of Pets each year. For journalists seeking more information, please visit our press room at http://www.banfield.net/press-room or contact our Media Hotline at 888-355-0595 (no sales calls, please).
About The Banfield Charitable Trust
Banfield Charitable Trust, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit public charity founded in 2003, was founded in response to Banfield team members’ requests for a way to take Banfield’s vision of treating Pets like family beyond the walls of the hospital. In addition to providing preventive care to clients in need, the Charitable Trust also supports childhood education about caring for Pets, veterinary education programs, and programs based on the family-Pet bond.
About Meals On Wheels Association of American (MOWAA)
The Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) is the oldest and largest organization in the United States representing those who provide meal services to people in need. MOWAA works toward the social, physical, nutritional, and economic betterment of vulnerable Americans. The Meals On Wheels Association of America provides the tools and information its programs need to make a difference in the lives of others. It also gives cash grants to local senior meal programs throughout the country to assist in providing meals and other nutrition services.
About We All Love Our Pets (WALOP)
We All Love Our Pets (WALOP) is a MOWAA initiative that enables local Meals On Wheels programs to begin or sustain pet food programs in order to nourish the pets of seniors. While many Meals On Wheels programs have their own pet food services, this is the first initiative of its kind on a national level. The goal of the WALOP program is to provide support and materials to the Meals On Wheels programs nationwide that support the needs of their clients and their pets by providing pet food supplements
# # #
National initiative encourages communities to reach out and donate this November and December to help local seniors with Pets stay nourished year round
Portland, Ore. —Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008—For some seniors, getting around easily is not an option. Often, their best friend and only companion is a loving dog or cat. The Season of Suppers campaign, now in its third year, calls attention to the importance of Pets to the well-being of homebound seniors. Helping keep these companion Pets well fed, healthy and part of the family for as long as possible became the motivating factor behind the partnership among Banfield, The Pet Hospital, the Banfield Charitable Trust (BCT) and Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA).
Phil Shippers, director of the Visiting Nurse Meals On Wheels program of Rochester, N.Y., knows the importance of getting the message out that homebound seniors with Pets are a vulnerable population.
“We know that many seniors in our community are compromising their own nutrition by sharing their meals with their Pets,” says Shippers.
“Awareness and action are key to preventing this from happening” says Shippers, who began a Pet feeding program in September through partial funding from a $1,000 grant from the Season of Suppers campaign. “In the short period of time since we started a Pet feeding program, we have seen great interest and support from not only our meal recipients but the greater community as well; we strongly believe this support will continue to grow and help us enhance the lives of seniors.”
Making a significant impact for seniors and their Pets
Last year, Banfield’s Season of Suppers campaign raised more than $51,000 to help 50 senior meal programs start or augment Pet feeding programs across the country.
“Since the first Season of Suppers campaign over 100 Meals On Wheels programs have started Pet feeding programs, “says Enid Borden, President and CEO of MOWAA. “While companion Pets are the direct beneficiaries of this campaign, homebound seniors are helped as well – and that’s MOWAA’s primary concern. Before the Season of Suppers campaign, many of these seniors lacked access to Pet food and were sharing their own meals with their Pets. Now, both seniors and their Pets are getting proper nutrition. It’s a win-win.”
Banfield’s 2008 Season of Suppers campaign takes place throughout Banfield’s more than 730 Pet hospitals across the country, beginning Nov. 1, 2008, and continues through the end of the year. Supporters can drop off Pet food or make monetary donations at any local Banfield.
Senator Ron Wyden, leading the charge for seniors and their Pets
United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), a champion of health and human services for senior citizens, will serve as the official campaign spokesperson. Senator Wyden began his professional career as an advocate for seniors, founding a legal clinic for the elderly and co-directing the Oregon Grey Panthers; an organization dedicated to working for the social and economic justice and peace for all people.
“The companionship of Pets provides significant benefits for homebound seniors,” says Senator Wyden. “As their social interaction with those outside of their home is limited, their Pets become a very important part of their family. Banfield, the BCT and MOWAA are working together to make sure that the time seniors spend with their Pets is as long and fulfilling as possible.”
NEW this year—2008 Season of Suppers Pet-themed note cards
In addition to donating Pet food and monetary contributions at local Banfield hospitals, supporters can participate in the campaign by purchasing full-color, Pet-themed note cards. A packet of eight cards will be sold for $10 and all of the proceeds from the note card sales, as well as monetary donations throughout the campaign, will be used to improve the lives of MOWAA recipients and their Pets.
Supporters may also purchase cards by contacting the Banfield Charitable Trust at (503) 922-5801 or writing to info@banfieldcharitabletrust.org
How the story began
After realizing that, like their owners, the Pets of many MOWAA recipients were in need of nutritious food, MOWAA launched We All Love Our Pets (WALOP). This initiative enables local Meals On Wheels programs to begin or sustain Pet food programs to nourish the Pets of seniors.
The Banfield–MOWAA partnership is the first initiative of its kind on a national level—it aims to feed all Pets of MOWAA recipients.
“We are truly honored to help support MOWAA’s WALOP program through the collaboration of Banfield, The Pet Hospital, the Banfield Charitable Trust and MOWAA and our Season of Suppers campaign,” says Sandra Campbell, President, Banfield Charitable Trust. “The success of this campaign continues to grow each year.”
About Banfield, The Pet Hospital®
Founded in Portland, Oregon, in 1955, Banfield has become the largest Pet general veterinary practice in the world, with more than 730 quality hospitals in many neighborhoods across the U.S., in the U.K. and in Mexico. More than 1,500 veterinarians at Banfield are committed to giving Pets the same level of care that their human family members receive. Banfield hospitals offer a full-range of comprehensive, medical services, computerized medical records, Pet preventive care plans, extended operating hours, and is the only veterinary practice in the world with an extensive quality assurance program. Banfield, The Pet Hospital helps extend the lives of millions of Pets each year. For journalists seeking more information, please visit our press room at http://www.banfield.net/press-room or contact our Media Hotline at 888-355-0595 (no sales calls, please).
About The Banfield Charitable Trust
Banfield Charitable Trust, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit public charity founded in 2003, was founded in response to Banfield team members’ requests for a way to take Banfield’s vision of treating Pets like family beyond the walls of the hospital. In addition to providing preventive care to clients in need, the Charitable Trust also supports childhood education about caring for Pets, veterinary education programs, and programs based on the family-Pet bond.
About Meals On Wheels Association of American (MOWAA)
The Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) is the oldest and largest organization in the United States representing those who provide meal services to people in need. MOWAA works toward the social, physical, nutritional, and economic betterment of vulnerable Americans. The Meals On Wheels Association of America provides the tools and information its programs need to make a difference in the lives of others. It also gives cash grants to local senior meal programs throughout the country to assist in providing meals and other nutrition services.
About We All Love Our Pets (WALOP)
We All Love Our Pets (WALOP) is a MOWAA initiative that enables local Meals On Wheels programs to begin or sustain pet food programs in order to nourish the pets of seniors. While many Meals On Wheels programs have their own pet food services, this is the first initiative of its kind on a national level. The goal of the WALOP program is to provide support and materials to the Meals On Wheels programs nationwide that support the needs of their clients and their pets by providing pet food supplements
# # #
