The Homeward Bound Pet Adoption Center’s pet pantry is overflowing thanks to the generosity of their partners at Amazon and the Camden County Board of Commissioners.
On Friday, May 14, the center celebrated the one-year anniversary of its partnership with the Amazon distribution center in Swedesboro, which has brought over 50 tons of pet food to the shelter since beginning during the height of the pandemic last year. Through this partnership, pet food items which would have otherwise been thrown away due to marketing changes, minor damage, or customer return, are now donated to the shelter on a weekly basis. The food is used to support animals in the shelter’s care and is distributed throughout the community to assist pet owners in need.
“This partnership has been an incredible success for South Jersey’s animals since its inception, so much so that we needed to build a new storage barn on the property just to properly store everything that’s coming in,” said County Commissioner Jonathan Young, liaison to Homeward Bound. “We are extremely thankful for Amazon’s generosity and commitment to supporting the pets and animals in our region. Homeward Bound is the region’s leading open admission shelter thanks to partnerships like this and the total commitment of its staff to finding pets their forever home.”
The partnership was born from a distribution center employee who saw tons of pet food having to be wasted. He and the center then reached out to Homeward Bound to establish a partnership that could put the food to use for animals in need.
“This is a fantastic example of a successful public, private and nonprofit partnership that benefits so many in need,” said Jill Rawlins, Executive Director of Homeward Bound. “Hundreds, if not thousands, of dogs and cats, who are able to be kept at home and not brought to the shelter, by these efforts. We are proud to be a part of this partnership.”
On Friday, May 14, staff and volunteers from the shelter visited Amazon to celebrate one year of this successful partnership.
For more information about Homeward Bound Pet Adoption Center, please call (856) 401-1300, or visit us online at https://homewardboundnj.org/.
