A pet food bank is looking to establish two additional locations as “demand just keeps growing,” according to its founder.
A Helping Paw, located in Northumberland, currently provides food parcels for up to 400 pets each month, a significant increase from 100-150 pets per month last year.
The charity already operates storage and collection points in Ashington, Cramlington, and Whitley Bay, but aims to expand with new hubs in Blyth and Newcastle.
Founder Tyesha Muncaster, 26, stated, “We have received increasing requests from those areas, so it makes sense to expand our services.”
Established in 2022, A Helping Paw originated when Muncaster shared a social media post offering cat food she no longer needed. “The response was overwhelming, and it just took off from there,” she explained.
The service operates on a collection-only basis; individuals in need can message the charity for an emergency food parcel for their pets, including dogs, cats, and other animals.
“A lot of the people we assist don’t have transportation, so the more centers we establish, the more people we can help,” Muncaster said.
She added that the charity requires only a room or portacabin to store pet food and distribute it weekly, noting, “We can pay a small fee, but it wouldn’t be much.”
Muncaster emphasized her mission to “help as many pets as we can because no one should have to rehome their pets due to financial struggles.”
The charity is also seeking more volunteers to assist with its growing efforts.
Volunteer Nicole Redpath remarked that A Helping Paw is “a real team effort.” She added, “It’s incredibly rewarding to know we’re helping so many pets have full tummies.”
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