Make a Donation
We are accepting unopened pet food or wish list items at the Adoption Center any morning between 9 and 10:30 a.m. Please ring the bell and a volunteer will accept your donation at the door.
Unopened pet food can be dropped off in the collection bins at Pet Supplies Plus Evanston (Dodge and Dempster), Pet Supplies Plus Morton Grove (Dempster at Harlem) or Pet Supplies Plus Lincolnwood (Lincoln Ave South of Touhy).
Please note:
We can only accept unopened bags of food or cat litter, along with canned food.
Food should be no older than a month past its expiration date.
Pantry Wishlist
Buy items for the Pet Food Pantry using our Wish List on Chewy or our Wish List on Amazon.
Donate Funds
We accept online monetary donations. Please select Pet Food Pantry as the designation so we can earmark those funds.
Pet Food Pantry Instructions
To become a Pet Food Pantry client:
Please complete the online form
Upload proof of address and spay/neuter for each pet receiving food. After you receive an approval email, you can come to one Pantry Event each month.
C.A.R.E. Pet Food Pantry Guidelines (Updated January 2024):
Clients must live in this region:
North of Montrose Ave, and East of 294, and South of Lake Cook Road, or in Des Plaines. Proof of residence is required for approval to receive food.C.A.R.E. will provide food assistance to pet owners who have been approved for the program.
Clients will be given 1 week's worth of food for each registered pet. Registration is limited to 6 pets per household/address.
Only one person per household may apply for assistance. Proof of address is required at time of application.
Clients may pick up once per month.
The amount of food clients receive will depend on the number and size of their pets.
Pet owners must provide and upload a document proving each of their pets have been spayed or neutered (veterinary record or adoption paperwork). If a pet cannot be spayed or neutered due to a medical issue, we ask clients to provide a letter from their vet on the animal hospital’s stationery.
C.A.R.E. asks that clients agree to treat their pets humanely and provide medical assistance as needed.
We ask that clients refrain from adopting additional pets while involved in the C.A.R.E. program.
Food distribution for pets will take priority over outdoor and feral cats. If you need resources for a feral colony, please check with your Sponsoring Humane Organization, as per the Cook County Feral Cat Ordinance.
Because our food comes from donated sources, C.A.R.E. cannot guarantee the availability of particular brands. Please note: We may give out opened bags or repackaged food and some food may have recently expired. We accept donations of opened food from safe sources, including local pet stores and vet offices.
C.A.R.E. does not provide shelter or medical assistance, but can provide clients with a list of low-cost spay and neuter clinics.
Existing Pet Food Pantry Clients will be grandfathered in and can receive food assistance for previously registered pets through 4/18/2024. Existing clients in the eligible area will need to fill out a new application and provide documents to receive food after 4/18/2024.
Hours/Days: See Pet Food Pantry Dates for the upcoming days and times. You must apply and be approved for pantry assistance to receive food.
Location: C.A.R.E. Adoption Center at 4927 Main Street, Skokie, IL 60077
Pet Food Pantry Grants:
The C.A.R.E. Pet Food Pantry is supported by grants from Niles Township Government, Beth Emet, Church & Dwight Employee Giving Fund Grants Committee, and Oliver Hoffman Foundation.
Interested in helping with C.A.R.E’s Pet Food Pantry?
We are currently seeking people to help with donation pick-up and prep work during the week, and also at the Pantry.
Volunteer roles include:
Weekly pick up and transport of food donations from our donor sites.
Sorting and organizing pet food donations.
Distributing pet food to Pantry clients and answering questions about pet care and pet-related topics
To become involved with C.A.R.E.’s Pet Food Pantry programs, please fill out the C.A.R.E. Volunteer Application.
Pet Food Pantry by the Numbers
2023
Total Number of Pickups: 753
Average fed Cats per month: 366
Average fed Dogs per month: 105
Estimated Cat food distributed: 10,987 lbs dry, 30,765 cans (3oz)
Estimated Dog food distributed: 10,112 lbs dry, 5,056 cans
Our client average pet ownership is 5.8 cats and 1.7 dogs
Top Zip Codes served: 60076, 60659, 60202, 60634, 60016
Zip Codes Served:
2022
Total Number of Pickups: 647
Average fed Cats per month: 256
Average fed Dogs per month: 96
Estimated Cat food distributed: 7,668 lbs dry, 21,469 cans (3oz)
Estimated Dog food distributed: 9,200 lbs dry, 4,600 cans
Our client average pet ownership is 4.7 cats and 1.8 dogs
Top Zip Codes served: 60076, 60077, 60641, 60659, 60202
