By Tina Bryson

HAGERHILL, KY. – Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) is known for helping people in need in Appalachia, but through CAP’s Operation Sharing furry friends are also benefitting from corporate partnerships. Feed the Children, one of CAP’s largest partners, also donate pet food and other pet supplies for national chains that go to help locally like the Whiskers or Wags Johnson County Animal Shelter.  

“We have received primarily cat and dog food from Operation Sharing,” said Lisa Trusty-Roberts, president of Whiskers or Wags and shelter manager. “We have also received dog and cat treats as well as dog beds and toys.  We also are part of the Operation Sharing Program and those items help support volunteers.”

Many people in Kentucky have been practicing social distancing and living their lives healthy at home in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19. During this time, many Kentuckians, like many people across the nation have decided to adopt or foster a cat or dog. According to Trusty-Roberts, they have actually seen an increase in adoptions as people have felt the need for companionship animals and have more time at home to get a new furry family member acclimated to their home.   

“This has been a difficult time for all of us and pets have a way of helping ease some of the stress,” said Aaron Thoms, manager of CAP’s Operation Sharing in Paintsville, Kentucky. “Feed the Children is best known for making sure that no child goes hungry, but they also work through corporate partnerships to supply a variety of items that benefit our local pet shelters.”

Trusty-Roberts agrees that these supplies have been a blessing and that staff at Operation Sharing make sure that these essential items help The Johnson County Animal Shelter fulfill its mission to make sure that the stray, abused, and unwanted animal population can be taken care of in a respectable and loving manner.

“The food, treats, and other products and accessories help us care for the animals at Whiskers or Wags,” Trusty-Roberts said. “There have been many times that we have had nearly empty shelves and CAP has called to let me know that supplies had arrived that we could use. CAP has been a true blessing to this very small rural shelter.”

While CAP continues its mission to build hope, transform lives, and share Christ’s love through service in Appalachia, staff at Operation Sharing know that there a million little ways to help uplift Appalachia. Operation Sharing has been providing needed supplies since the shelter opened four years ago, and through its continued partnership with Feed the Children, CAP will continue to support this local partner.

“The needs in the region are so great for children and their families, as well as seniors, and individuals with disabilities. We know that is the reality every day for people struggling in poverty, but our hearts are big enough to also look out for animals that need a helping hand too,” Thoms said. Welcome to EditPad.org - your online plain text editor. Enter or paste your text here. To download and save it, click on the button below.