c.a.R.E.'s Pet FOOD PANTRY

For a list of other pet food pantries in the area, click here.

NEXT PET FOOD PANTRY DATES:

Saturday, March 2 - 2 pm to 3:30 pm
Thursday, March 21 - 5 pm to 6:30 pm
Saturday, April 6 - 2 pm to 3:30 pm
Thursday, April 18 - 5 pm to 6:30 pm

Our goal is to provide supplemental food support to help families keep pets in their homes rather than give them up to a rescue group due to financial reasons.

HOURS/DAYS: See Community Events for the Calendar with dates and times.

APPLY: New registration is paused while we prepare to meet the new guidelines. Check back in March to apply as a new client.

PET FOOD PANTRY GRANTS

The C.A.R.E. Pet Food Pantry is supported by grants from Niles Township Government, Beth Emet, and Oliver Hoffman Foundation.

The C.A.R.E. Pet Food Pantry is supported by grants from Niles Township Government, Beth Emet, Church & Dwight Employee Giving Fund Grants Committee, and Oliver Hoffman Foundation.

C.A.R.E. Pet Food Pantry guidelines are as follows (updated January 2024):

  • Clients must live in this region:
    North of Montrose Ave., South of Lake Cook Road, West to 294, including Des Plaines, and East to Lake Michigan. Proof of residence is required for approval to receive food.

  • C.A.R.E. will provide food assistance to pet owners who have been approved for the program.

  • Clients will be given 1 week's worth of food for each registered pet. Registration is limited to 6 pets per household.

  • Only one person per household may apply for assistance. Proof of identification and address is required at time of application.

  • Clients may pick up once per month.

  • The amount of food clients receive will depend on the number and size of their pets and availability of food.

  • Pet owners must provide and upload a document proving each of their pets have been spayed or neutered (veterinary record or adoption paperwork). If a pet cannot be spayed or neutered due to a medical issue, we ask clients to provide a letter from their vet on the animal hospital’s stationery.

  • C.A.R.E. asks that clients agree to treat their pets humanely and provide medical assistance as needed.

  • We ask that clients refrain from adopting additional pets while involved in the C.A.R.E. program.

  • Food distribution for pets will take priority over outdoor and feral cats. If you need resources for a feral colony, please check with your Sponsoring Humane Organization, as per the Cook County Feral Cat Ordinance.

  • Because our food comes from donated sources, C.A.R.E. cannot guarantee the availability of particular brands. Please note: We may give out opened bags or repackaged food and some food may have recently expired. We accept donations of opened food from safe sources, including local pet stores and vet offices.

  • C.A.R.E. does not provide shelter or medical assistance, but can provide clients with a list of low-cost spay and neuter clinics.

  • Existing Pet Food Pantry Clients will be grandfathered in and can receive food assistance for previously registered pets through 4/18/2024. Existing clients in the eligible area will need to fill out a new application and provide documents to receive food after 4/18/2024.

2023 PET FOOD PANTRY STATS

Total Number of Pickups: 753

Average fed Cats per month: 366

Average fed Dogs per month: 105

Estimated Cat food distributed: 10,987 lbs dry, 30,765 cans (3oz)

Estimated Dog food distributed: 10,112 lbs dry, 5,056 cans

Our client average pet ownership is 5.8 cats and 1.7 dogs

Top ZIP Codes served: 60076, 60659, 60202, 60634, 60016

2022 Pet Food Pantry Stats

  • Total Number of Pickups: 647

  • Average fed Cats per month: 256

  • Average fed Dogs per month: 96

  • Estimated Cat food distributed: 7,668 lbs dry, 21,469 cans (3oz)

  • Estimated Dog food distributed: 9,200 lbs dry, 4,600 cans

  • Our client average pet ownership is 4.7 cats and 1.8 dogs

  • Top ZIP Codes served: 60076, 60077, 60641, 60659, 60202

Interested in helping out with C.A.R.E.’s Pet Food PANTRY?

We are currently seeking people to help with donation pick-up and prep work during the week, and also at the Pantry.

Volunteer roles include:
    •    Weekly pick up and transport of food donations from our donor sites  
    •    Sorting and organizing pet food donations
    •    Distributing pet food to Pantry clients and answering questions about pet care and pet-related topics

To become involved with C.A.R.E.’s Pet Food Pantry programs, please fill out the C.A.R.E. Volunteer Application.

Interested in donating pet food or supplies to be used at C.A.R.E.’s Pet Food Pantries?

WE ARE ACCEPTING unopened pet food or wish list items at the C.A.R.E. Adoption Center any morning between 9 and 10:30 a.m. Please ring the bell at the front door of 4927 Main St and a volunteer will accept your donation at the door.

Unopened pet food can be dropped off in the collection bins at Pet Supplies Plus Evanston (Dodge and Dempster), Pet Supplies Plus Morton Grove (Dempster at Harlem) or Pet Supplies Plus Lincolnwood (Lincoln Ave South of Touhy).

Please note:
    •    We can only accept unopened bags of food along with canned food.
    •    Food should be no older than a month past its expiration date.

DONATE SUPPLIES via online shopping

Buy items for the Pet Food Pantry using our Wish List on Chewy or our Wish List on Amazon

DONATE Money to support purchases of needed food and supplies

We accept online monetary donations. Please select Pet Food Pantry as the designation so we can earmark those funds.

Want to know more?

To become involved with C.A.R.E.’s Pet Food Pantry programs, please fill out the C.A.R.E. Volunteer Application.