Pets make wonderful companions for anyone, and for older adults, pets can fill an even bigger role. Many older adults who live alone or have limited access to their community live in isolated situations where a furry friend can be vitally important to their well-being. Pets provide constant loving companionship for seniors which reduces loneliness and depression. Most people love their pets dearly, but for seniors experiencing isolation, their pet may be their only source of companionship and emotional support. Because pets are so important to many older adults, Milestone Senior Services developed a Pet Support for Seniors program.
You Can Help!
Each year, Milestone partners with Harding’s Market in Portage and Kalamazoo to hold a Pet Food Drive. Below are the dates and locations where you can contribute pet food or a donation to our Pets Support for Seniors program.
- Kalamazoo: June 4, 4:00-6:00 pm – Harding’s Market – 5161 West Main
- Portage: June18, 4:00-6:00 pm – Harding’s Market – 3750 W. Centre Ave
If these dates are not convenient for you, you can drop off your donation at our Kalamazoo office (918 Jasper Street) any weekday between 9 am and 4 pm throughout June.
About the Program:
The Pet Support for Seniors program works in tandem with our Home Delivered Meals (Meals on Wheels) program. Home Delivered Meals provides needed nutrition for seniors who are not able to access adequate nutrition for themselves. Milestone recognizes that if people are unable to access food for themselves, they likely experience the same challenges providing for their valued pets.
According to Meals on Wheels of America, one in five seniors who own pets reported going without food themselves so that their pets could eat. When Milestone realized that many Home Delivered Meals clients were sharing their meals with their pets, we established the Pet Support for Seniors program so that our nutrition clients who have pets can receive home delivered dog and cat food, as well as cat litter.
For more information about Milestone’s Pet Support for Seniors program, contact our Volunteer Coordinator 269-382-0515 ex 180.
Click here to download the 2026 Pet Drive flyer.
