The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services opened a new pet food pantry at the city’s Multi-Service Center (MSC) to support pet owners in need earlier this month.
“We are thrilled to announce this new partnership and are so grateful to Project Street Vet and Kismet for making it happen,” Mayor Rex Richardson said in a public statement. “Pets provide comfort, companionship and unconditional love. For people experiencing homelessness, pets can also foster a sense of normality and family in a world that can otherwise be very lonely.”
This initiative is backed by Project Street Vet, a nonprofit organization dedicated to aiding the pets of people experiencing homelessness, and Kismet, a pet brand recently co-founded by celebrity couple John Legend and Chrissy Teigen. Legend attended the opening ceremony, marking Kismet’s donation of over 2,500 pounds of dog food and treats to Project Street Vet.
The Multi-Service Center serves as a comprehensive resource for homeless services in Long Beach. Visitors can now access the pet food pantry during the center’s operating hours.
Long Beach is now the tenth community to benefit from Project Street Vet, which provides veterinary care to the pets of those facing homelessness and housing instability. This organization, mainly run by volunteers, has collaborated with the Health Department on pet healthcare initiatives since 2023.
We are animal lovers to our core and supporting our local pet communities has always been very important to us when building Kismet,” Kismet Chief Executive Officer, Mathé Young Mosny, said in a public statement. “We’re proud to work alongside Project Street Vet and the city of Long Beach to bring food to those in need.”
The City of Long Beach has been gathering pet food and other essentials through donation events and collection boxes at public libraries since early 2023. The new pet food pantry at the MSC is an extension of these efforts, ensuring a consistent supply of pet food for those in need.
