As part of the Million Pet Meal Challenge, Humane Pennsylvania (HPA) is asking the community to contribute pet food donations with the goal of providing 1 million meals to hungry pets. On Saturday, Dec. 7, Humane PA will host a donation drive from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Freedom Center for Animal Life-Saving, 1729 N. 11th St., Reading, and at its Lancaster campus, 2195 Lincoln Highway East. Additionally, pet and family photos with Santa will be offered that day from noon to 4 p.m. In lieu of a fee, participants will be asked to bring a pet food donation in exchange for the photo. Karel Minor, president and CEO of HPA, recently explained that by combining these events, organizers are hoping to create a big wave of donations just in time for the holiday season.

Community Courier: Is this the first time that the food drive and photos with Santa have been combined into one event?

Minor: Humane PA has hosted photos with Santa and a holiday pet food donation drive for many years, and occasionally the two events would overlap. Because this food drive has grown so much in the past few years and so many Santa photo participants bring donations on their own, we thought it was a good time to combine the two events.

Community Courier: Is there a particular item that you need most? Are you also accepting cat treats and dog treats? What about blankets or other necessities?

Minor: Although HPA's Million Pet Meal Challenge welcomes donations of any type of pet food, dry dog and cat food of any size bag is especially needed. Pet treats and gently used blankets or dog beds are always useful.

Community Courier: How will the donations be distributed?

Minor: Donations received as part of the Million Pet Meal Challenge or pet photos with Santa are used in a variety of ways. Items suitable within HPA's shelters are used for our animals. Many donations are shared with other animal welfare or emergency service agencies, but the majority of donations are distributed through Spike's Pet Food Pantry (SPP). SPP provides those in financial need with access to pet food and supplies, so they don't have to choose between feeding their pets or feeding their families. That keeps pets happy, healthy, well-fed and at home, rather than going to shelters. To achieve this, Humane PA needs hundreds of thousands of pounds of food and supplies each year. To reach our goal of 1 million pet meals, we need 250,000 pounds of food donated. It's a big goal, but with the community's help we know we can do it!

Community Courier: Is winter a particularly slow time for receiving food donations, or does that need exist year-round?

Minor: Pet food and supplies are needed year-round, but the year-end holiday, (which focuses) on charitable giving, makes a big year-end push well-timed and well-received by the public.

Community Courier: For those unable to attend the special event, are pet food donations accepted at the locations? Must they be brought during operating hours, or are there bins or containers at the sites?

Minor: Although we have a big receiving day on Dec. 7 at HPA's Lancaster and Reading campuses the same day as pet photos with Santa, folks are welcome to drop off donations seven days a week during business hours at our adoption centers or at any of the collection locations hosted by our business partners. A complete list of HPA and other collection locations can be found at http://www.HumanePA.org.

Community Courier: Do you currently have a large number of adoptable pets in the shelters?

Minor: Animal shelters, including Humane PA, always have dogs, cats and critters in need of forever homes. If people are considering bringing a pet into their family, we hope they will visit our adoption centers or another in the area.

Community Courier: Can you provide advice for people considering adopting a pet to give as a Christmas or holiday gift? 

Minor: One of the biggest and most common misconceptions in animal welfare is that the holidays are automatically a bad time to adopt. While the holidays can be hectic and busy, for many families they can offer an extended period at home together with their new pet. As long as the choice to adopt is well considered and the right pet for the family is chosen rather than picking the wrong pet simply to get one, it really doesn't matter when someone adopts. It's all about being prepared and making the right choice for you and your family.