DONATE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. The Chippewa Valley Cat Club is hosting its 14th annual pet food drive in support of the St. Francis Food Pantry. From Nov. 1-Dec. 15, folks are invited to drop off non-perishable food items and other supplies to participating local businesses.

While typically focused on felines, the Chippewa Valley Cat Club (CVCC) encourages donations of all kinds toward its annual pet food drive, including cat and dog treats to rabbit and bird food.

With just six members, the local cat club calls on the community each year to support the drive. All donations – non-perishable pet food items and treats, littler, and cash donations will be accepted – benefit the St. Francis Food Pantry (1221 Truax Blvd., Eau Claire).

Upwards of a dozen area businesses are participating as drop-off locations for this year’s drive, which will run from Nov. 1-Dec. 15.

Drop off locations:

• Barks and Recreation (5775 Friedeck Rd., Eau Claire)
• Eau Claire Animal Hospital (2504 Mall Dr., Eau Claire)
• emBark (2109 Fairfax St., Eau Claire)
• Healthy Pet Altoona (1515 Mayer Rd., Eau Claire)
• Kindness Animal Hospital (1902 Hallie Rd., Chippewa Falls)
• Lake Wissota Animal Hospital (16915 54th Ave., Chippewa Falls)
• Northside Pet Hospital (1727 Western Ave., Eau Claire)
• Oakwood Hills Animal Hospital (4616 Commerce Valley Rd., Eau Claire)
• Paws and Claws Total Dog (3820 Old Town Hall Rd., Eau Claire)
• Pet Food Plus (2819 E. Hamilton Ave., Eau Claire)
• Riverview Animal Hospital (4668 133rd St., Chippewa Falls)
• Ark Animal Hospital (2914 Mondovi Rd., Eau Claire)
• Tropic Waters Pet Center (3015 E. Hamilton Ave., Eau Claire)
• Your Dog’s Gym (5717 33rd Ave., Eau Claire)
• Westgate Animal Hospital (2135 N. Clairemont Ave., Eau Claire)

Last year’s drive resulted in almost 3,000 pounds of collected goods, CVCC President Carol Larson said, and the club hopes to see that number increase this fall.

The cat club, which supports a variety of individual requests throughout the year (including asks for food and assistance with nail clippings), aims to provide assistance to cat owners in need year-round.

Previously, the club was able to provide pet food to participants of the Aging & Disability Resource Center's Meals on Wheels program, thanks to a grant awarded by the Eau Claire Community Foundation.

“The clients at St. Francis really appreciate anything,” Larson said. “But one thing I did note when we did Meals on Wheels is that a lot of people seem to feed (their animals) Purina foods.

“St. Francis never gets enough pet food to actually meet the need that is out there. They would greatly appreciate any additional pet food that people might be able to drop off directly throughout the year,” Larson continued. “Each item donated makes a difference!”

The Chippewa Valley Cat Club's pet food drive will run Nov. 1-Dec. 15. Cash contributions will be used to purchase additional pet food. Checks can be made out to Chippewa Valley Cat Club, 535 Lake Rd., Altoona, WI 54720. Donations can also be made via PayPal to cvcats@hotmail.com.