Meals on Wheels Honors its 40 Year AniMeals Partnership with Helen Woodward Animal Center
Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. (Jun. 06, 2023) – Last Saturday, June 3rd, San Diego Nonprofit Meals on Wheels held its annual gala with a special highlight – a celebration of its 40-year partnership with Helen Woodward Animal Center. The two big-hearted organizations have shared four decades of kindness to those in need through the Center program AniMeals.
Each year, Meals on Wheels San Diego delivers over 650,000 nutritious meals with friendly visits to older San Diegans, helping them stay fed and in their homes. The organization advocates for issues that impact the health, wellness, and independence of San Diegans who are 60 or older, veterans with disabilities of any age, and their caregivers.
As Meals on Wheels’ mission addresses the nourishment of the body, Helen Woodward Animal Center’s mission addresses the nourishment of the soul, with the love of a pet proving particularly crucial to elderly and disabled pet owners who often depend on this pet as their primary companion. Overwhelming research has shown that pets are a real health benefit for their owners. Compared to non-pet owners, those with four-legged friends at home have lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, have a better sense of security, are more active, experience less depression, and even live longer. Unfortunately, the cost and ability to acquire pet food can often prove to be insurmountable obstacles for homebound senior and disabled individuals.
In 1984, a volunteer with the Meals on Wheels program discovered one of her clients was sharing her delivered food with her cats. Realizing the woman was sacrificing her own health in order to keep her furry companions, the volunteer brought the problem to Helen Woodward Animal Center and the AniMeals program was created. The AniMeals program strives to remove financial obstacles and keep its clients together with their pets for their physical health as well as their emotional well-being. Initially serving just 10 clients, today AniMeals has grown exponentially and feeds more than 850 pets every month owned by homebound seniors, wounded veterans and people with disabilities.
“There really aren’t enough words to accurately describe the gratitude we feel for this collaboration,” explained Helen Woodward Animal Center VP of Development Renee Resko. “Keeping beloved pets in the homes of their owners is at the very heart of our mission. Working with Meals on Wheels allows us to get pet food into the homes of individuals in need, benefitting the pets but equally benefitting the owners who love them. It’s beautiful program and a wonderful partnership.”
The program’s only limitation on continued expansion stems from necessary funding. For information, to donate pet food, or to volunteer for the AniMeals program, call (858) 756-4117 x 341 or click on www.animalcenter.org.
To make a financial contribution, contact Helen Woodward Animal Center VP of Development Renee Resko at Reneer@animalcenter.org or call (858) 756-4117 x 347.
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