CHENEY – The community came together for a heartwarming event to support local pet owners and their furry friends.
On Dec. 21, Tony Blount, the Veterans of Foreign Wars post and the Boy and Girl Scouts collaborated on a pet food drive, collecting 2,400 pounds and providing meals for more than 300 cats and dogs each month.
Half a dozen sponsors joined forces to make this event possible, Blount said.
Students from Eastern Washington University also participated.
Another drive took place Sunday, Jan. 19, at Diamond Beauty at noon.
A donation box placed at the location had already contributed to the effort. Organizers aim to collect 1,000 pounds of food to be distributed at the university.
“This is the first time the Boy and Girl Scouts have worked together on an event like this,” Cmdr. Rick Mattausch of Cheney VFW Post No. 11326 said. “It's incredible to see their enthusiasm.”
The scouts and VFW continue to expand their efforts, hosting pet food drives in Deer Park, Spankgle, Malden, Elk, Cheney and Rosalia.
Beyond helping pets, the event builds a stronger sense of community.
The Girl Scouts also bake cookies for veterans and plan to send care packages to U.S. Troops overseas. Recently, they sent 250 boxes of cookies to a military base in Iraq, bringing joy to soldiers stationed there.
“The scouts are making a real difference,” said Mattausch. “It's heartwarming to see their dedication.”
