(ATLANTA, Ga.) While many organizations have been on the frontline combatting food insecurity and implementing community programs for residents of Atlanta to receive fresh produce and meals, The Humane Society is stepping in to take care of pets.
In partnership with the online pet food supply company Chewy, The Humane Society gifted a community fridge initiative, the Free99Fridge, 25 pallets of both cat and dog food to give away to those who have pets in need.
Founder of Free99Fridge Latisha Springer and volunteers hosted their first free pet food drive Thursday in the West End neighborhood. This is is one of many drives Springer and her team will be hosting throughout the year.
“For many pet owners, struggling to feed their family, this includes their pets,” Springer told Eater in a statement. “We often have people coming to our fridges just looking for something their pet can eat.”
The fridge was able to safely store 30,000 lbs of the gifted pet food, thanks to both the Lee and White complex — currently home to two community fridges at Best End Brewery — providing the newest fridge with temporary warehouse space.
Springer launched the community fridge last summer in an effort to combat food insecurity in low-income and vulnerable neighborhoods. Specifically, Springer targeted neighborhoods that were experiencing gentrification at rapid rates.
With this recent endeavor, Atlanta now has six community fridges and each is named in honor of a Black man or woman who died due to police brutality. Local volunteers maintain and stock the fridges.
In addition to businesses sponsoring food, the community fridges also rely on local farmers and neighborhood volunteers to supply hygiene products and monetary donations.