Tammy Kelly, director of the Lenoir County Extension Office, reached out to the Lenoir County SPCA and a number of pet owners to pull together a special project. The goal is assisting pet owners struggling to provide for their pets during the economic shutdown surrounding the COVID-19 virus. I am sure those involved had to wonder just how much support the “No Bowl Empty” project would receive.

“I wish I could say ‘No Empty Bowl’ was my idea, but I saw it on a Raleigh news station,” Kelly said. “It made me think about all of the pets we house during hurricanes and how many of those [pet owners] may or may not have the resources or the transportation to provide for themselves, let alone their pets.”

On Saturday, April 25, Kelly and her team discovered how much people of this community would give to help people provide for their pets.

“Overall, donations today exceeded $2,000 in cash, pet food and supplies,” said David Mooring, who was at the Farmers Market on Saturday to assist with the collection for “No Bowl Empty.”

The North Lenoir High School FFA kicked off the morning with a $350 donation. Jerry Henderson of the local SPCA arrived about the time FFA members delivered the food they had purchased. Half of their food donation was presented to Henderson to assist the local SPCA, and the other half was donated to No Bowl Empty efforts. The FFA donation was followed up by a $200 gift from the Wheat Swamp Ruritan Club to purchase pet food and supplies.

By the time collection efforts ended Saturday, No Bowl Empty had acquired nearly two tons of food for dogs, cats, rabbits, and hamsters, and feed for chickens and birds. The project also acquired serving bowls and cat litter. The Big Blue Store helped stretch the donations by selling to representatives of the FFA and No Bowl Empty at a discount.

“One guy dropped off dog and cat food,” Mooring said. “He asked what else we needed. I said we had been asked for rabbit and chicken feed but had none at present. That rascal went straight to Tractor Supply, bought rabbit and chicken feed, and brought it straight back to us.

“I almost cried because of the love our community has shown for this project. Where on earth could we find people more compassionate than those living right here?”

While Saturday’s success was a good start, the donations in no way cover all the needs of pets and their owners in our community.

“The supply right now even with current community support has not met the demand for pet assistance,” Mooring said. “Lack of resources to provide for pets is not a low wealth issue. Low wealth and middle-class families who are out of work at this point are all struggling. This is really a crisis. We can only hope and pray our next three Saturdays are just as successful as this past one.”

“No Bowl Empty” will be collecting donations of food and supplies at the Lenoir County Farmers Market at 100 N. Herritage Street in Kinston from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Three more Saturdays offer opportunities to give – May 2, May 9, and May 16.

You can also make donations during the week at the Lenoir County Cooperative Extension Office from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. You can give food or supplies. You can also give cash or donate by check made payable to the Lenoir County Cooperative Extension Service. Call 252-527-2191 for more information.  

Food and supplies for pets will be distributed at the Lenoir County Livestock Arena each Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to pet owners who meet the project’s criteria. Distributions will continue only while supplies last.

Those unable to pick up food because of lack of transportation should fill out a form, and food will be delivered to them. In order to qualify for delivery service, please go to the link and complete the form. The link is: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1_sBWBfEnVVt37owU53Ju05QBPu4lWDwpzmu__Yp2o5A/viewform?edit_requested=true . 

Mike Parker is a columnist for Neuse News. You can reach him at mparker16@gmail.com.