4th Annual Share the Love Supply Drive

Supporting Wet Nose Pet Food Pantry

At Camp Ruff It, “community” isn’t just a word we use. It’s something we show up for. That’s why we’re proud to host our 4th Annual Share the Love Supply Drive, benefiting Wet Nose Pet Food Pantry, an organization doing quiet, meaningful work for pets and the people who love them.

This year’s drive focuses on a simple but powerful goal: helping four-legged family members have full bellies at every meal.

Who Is Wet Nose Pet Food Pantry?

Wet Nose Pet Food Pantry was created to help people keep their pets during times of hardship.

Too often, families facing financial or medical struggles are encouraged to surrender their animals as if love and responsibility disappear when money gets tight. Wet Nose exists to make sure that doesn’t have to happen.

The pantry provides pet food and essential supplies directly to individuals and families who need support, whether that need is temporary or long-term. The name “Wet Nose” was chosen intentionally, because a soft, moist nose is often a sign of a happy, healthy pet. That’s the goal every time food is shared.

While the pantry has been around in some form since around 2009, it has always operated on a very small scale. A true labor of love, often running on fumes, personal storage space, and a shoestring budget. Recently, having access to a dedicated storage space has been a game changer, and increased community support could help the pantry serve even more pets consistently.

Why This Work Matters

Every full belly is a success. But sometimes, the impact is even more personal.

There’s a homebound senior in Lemont and his cat, Peaches, who receive regular deliveries of food and litter. Because of proximity and circumstance, deliveries are possible for him. Those visits often include a few minutes of conversation and plenty of affection for Peaches. Moments like that are reminders that this work isn’t just about supplies, it’s about dignity, connection, and compassion.

Most of the time, the animals helped are never met in person. But knowing they’re staying with their families, warm, fed, and loved, is what keeps the pantry going.

How Wet Nose Pet Food Pantry Began

The roots of Wet Nose trace back to a college senior-year class focused on community service. The original project involved organizing a pet food and supply drive for local shelters and rescue groups. That experience stuck. It led to fostering and adopting cats, and eventually sparked a bigger idea.

Years later, the realization hit: many people don’t need rescue for their pets, they need support. Food costs are often the biggest barrier. When that barrier is removed, families can stay together. And that’s how Wet Nose Pet Food Pantry was born.

How You Can Help

For our Share the Love Supply Drive, we’re collecting the items most needed by the pantry:

• Kitty litter

• Canned dog food

• Canned cat food

• Dry dog food

• Dry cat food

• Monetary donations

Donations can be dropped off at Camp Ruff It during the drive. Monetary donations help fill gaps when specific items run low.

We’re also always looking for temporary or permanent drop-off locations. If you’re interested in hosting a collection box at your business, workplace, or community space, we can provide flyers, box labels, and signage for windows, doors, and break rooms.

Need Help or Want to Get Involved?

If you or someone you know needs assistance, Wet Nose Pet Food Pantry offers a simple two-page application available on their website. It can also be emailed directly upon request.

Questions, requests for help, or interest in supporting the pantry can be handled through Facebook, email, or the Wet Nose website. The goal is to make access easy and welcoming.

Sharing the Love, Together

This is our fourth year hosting this drive, and each year reminds us how powerful collective kindness can be. Whether you donate a single can of food, help spread the word, or support financially, you’re making a difference.

A full bowl. A wet nose. A family that gets to stay together.

That’s what this drive is all about.