Fill The Red Truck donation drive to benefit Columbia animal shelter

Life is different for our pets these days.

We can definitely empathize.

But some things haven’t changed for four-legged friends; they still need food, supplies and care.

That’s why the 12th annual Fill the Red Truck Supply Drive will be held as usual — well, not quite as usual. There are a few changes to make it COVID-19 safe for folks to donate.

Fill The Red Truck collects food and supplies for the City of Columbia animal shelter each May, and this year it’s expanding online for the entire month, with proceeds also benefiting pet owners impacted by COVID-19.

“This year’s event is more important than ever, with so many of our neighbors facing a change to their financial situation,” said Jen Coody, executive director of The Animal Mission. “Keeping shelter intake under control is always critical, and if we can help people keep their pets at home where they belong through these hard times, it’s a win.”

The event has been hosted each May since 2009 in support of the Columbia Animal Shelter.

By making pet food available to those in need, the event organizers hope to spare pet owners from having to face the difficult decision to surrender their pets, and help keep the shelter from facing a dangerous overcrowding situation.

How to donate

Folks can donate to the Fill The Red Truck supply drive online, or in person with social distancing drop-off.

The online option allows you to make monetary donations online or have supplies shipped directly to the city shelter from an Amazon Wishlist. Go to www.filltheredtruck.org to participate.

All funds and supplies will be used to support shelter pets as well as those who are experiencing financial difficulties related to the COVID-19 crisis.

For those who prefer to contribute in person, there will be a drive-thru drop-off from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. May 16-17 at the corner of Heyward and Holly streets. To keep organizers and volunteers safe, there will be limited volunteers on site, and donors are asked to follow all social distancing guidelines and deposit their donations into the truck themselves if possible.

Donations are also being collected at Dick Smith Automotive locations: Dick Smith Nissan of Columbia (9940 Two Notch Road), Dick Smith Nissan of Lexington (5536 Sunset Blvd.), Dick Smith Nissan & Infiniti (3670 Fernandina Road), and Dick Smith Ford (7201 Garners Ferry Road).

Fill The Red Truck was started in 2009 by Shandon resident Carolyn McKenzie and six of her closest friends, to help fill the supply needs of the City of Columbia shelter.

donations by the numbers

In past years, the friends (who call themselves “Paws and Purrls”) gather in the front yard of McKenzie’s home for a weekend of socializing and fundraising, and all neighbors are welcome to stop by to enjoy the fun or lend a hand.

Over the past 11 years, the group has been responsible for collecting:

▪ 9,900 pounds of dry dog food

▪ 3,700 pounds of dry cat food

▪ 2,100 pounds of cat litter

▪ 1,950 cans of canned cat food

▪ 1,250 cans of canned dog food

▪ Countless cleaning supplies, paper towels, hoses, crates, carriers, toys, leashes, collars, blankets, towels and other items

▪ More than $20,000 in monetary donations.

“I think God gives people who love animals just a little bigger heart, and it makes our hearts swell to see the response we get every year from people who donate,” McKenzie said.

The group hopes to return to their front yard social gathering next year. But in the meantime, they urge all of their regular supporters, donors, and neighbors to support this virtual version.

If you are in need of help caring for your pets, please contact info@animalmission.org for assistance.

Lezlie Patterson, special to GoColumbia

This story was originally published May 15, 2020 at 2:58 PM with the headline "Fill The Red Truck donation drive to benefit Columbia animal shelter."