OUR PARTNERS
COMMUNITY KITCHENS
FoodBank Lakeside currently support two community kitchens where we provide funding for food and local community members cook hot meals for children and elderly community members.
Comedor de Banco de La Ribera– A Community Kitchen in San Juan
Tecomatlán, just east of Chapala. Serving 62 children with a hot lunch twice a week, the program also welcomes adults on Saturdays.
Proyecto Niños de San Antonio –A Community Kitchen in San Antonio
Tlayacapan.
At El Proyecto, dedicated Mexican volunteers prepare and serve meals to 50 to 70 elderly or disabled individuals five days a week. Additionally, the kitchen plays a vital role in supporting Ajijic DIF DIF (Desarrollo Integral de la Familia) by providing cooked meals five days a week to around 50 people who are unable to cook for themselves.
Pet Food Bank Lakeside began as a response to the COVID pandemic to help families stay united with their pets. After their first year in operation, it became apparent that families challenged by food poverty and at risk of losing their pets, is an ongoing situation in our lakeside community.
Losing a beloved pet because you can no longer feed them is heartbreaking.
Donations allow us to provide free pet food for those in need.
Food is delivered through the partnership with FoodBank Lakeside.
Pet Food Bank Lakeside is currently feeding over 1400 dogs and cats. It’s a lot of work but the smiles on the faces of the children are enough confirmation that we are making a difference.
Julie Wittmann
(Pet Food Bank founder)
Julie began donating pet food to FBL for their despensas. It was a natural fit and as families are applying for despensas they are also asked if they have pets. Julie is then given that information from FBL and she and her helpers make sure there is pet food for each family as they pick up their despensas.
Julie’s mission is to keep pets with their families and not be turned out to survive on the street. Especially during hard times, pets can provide a much needed emotional support for the family members. To date the Pet Food Bank has handed out over 35,000 pounds (16,000 kilos) of dog and cat food. She has several volunteers that help her repackage the food for distribution. Direct donations from the community are essential. She said the need has not lessened at all and may actually have increased.
PET FOOD BANK LAKESIDE’S FACEBOOK
Please visit this page where you can see the happy faces of people receiving food for their beloved pets.