Paws and Prayers ministry helps people get pet food, supplies; trivia fundraiser set for Saturday

QUINCY, IL — If you believe everyone deserves to have a pet, you think along the lines of Victoria Dry, founder of the Paws and Prayers pet food ministry at Salem Evangelical United Church of Christ.

Dry had heard people in the community were giving up their pets because they could not afford to feed them. She didn’t want that to be their only option.

“Pets … are good security,” Dry said. “They really make us feel better.”

Dry wanted to do something to help people keep their pets. She started Paws and Prayers six years ago to provide food and supplies to pet owners who need the help. The ministry handed out 248 sacks of dog and cat food in the past month.

Pet food is bagged 20 cups at a time so everyone gets their share. Paws and Prayers gives away these bags of food on the second Saturday of each month from 10:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

For people who are homebound, deliveries are made the Thursday before each second Saturday.

Everything from food, pet supplies, toys, leashes, collars and pet carriers are donated and accepted by the Paws and Prayer Pet Food Ministry. Donated items do not have to be new. Used blankets and toys are washed before being given away.

Monetary donations are accepted so dog or cat food can be bought if there is not enough of one or the other. Dry said there has been a lack of dry cat food recently, so the ministry will buy it each month to make sure cats stay fed.

“We started out with just one table of food. Now we have anywhere from five to six tables full of food and pet supplies,” Dry said.

Even with the growth of support over the years, Dry said it is getting difficult to keep up with the growing need. Reaching more people is one of the ministry’s goals, but donations are needed.

The growing need, however, hasn’t stopped their efforts, though.

“God put the animals here on earth, and I feel that it is our responsibility to help them,” Dry said. “Maybe God gave me the calling to start this ministry.”

To help fundraise for their ministry, Paws and Prayers is having a trivia night on Saturday, March 25 at Salem Evangelical United Church of Christ. There will be a silent auction, a pet photo contest and games. Teams of up to eight people can enter the trivia contest. Doors open at 5:00 p.m.

Call Dry at 217-222-0601 for more information. Teams can register at the event if they have not done so beforehand.

Noah Klauser is a Quincy native and a Culver-Stockton College student serving as an intern for Muddy River News during the spring semester.