Feeder Leaving Cats not fed

Okay, here's the sitch:

A feeder fed 10 sites of cats for 1 year. She got pulled by her hubby (Army) out of here (No. Va area) 2 wks ago for Nevada.

She did not have back up to feed the cats -

We now have cats going hungry and breeding. We have gotten a TNR effort going and most kittens removed when sighted and trapped.

However, no food is a problem. I would feed but I already feed
16 plus 4 home and 1 stray. So, my question(s)

1) When this has happened to other people/groups, what have
they done to make sure the cats get fed and more imptly TNRd?
Do they advertise for feeders? How do you ask around for something
like this??!!

2) When local groups FAIL to step up by helping with
finding food donations - how do you handle that??

3) What sources of food DONATIONS can I go look for for these
cats? Do Super Market Chains allow their managers to give away
bags that are damaged or torn? Petco or PetSmart? (My
PetSmart people are very very non helpful which is a shame,
considering...) How do they get rid of date food? Or is there
some other thing they do with that food? I want to get my hands
on some of that food - its still GOOD and will be used immediately.

4) What fund raising can be done via other groups? Are there funds I can apply for that will help me FEED? I have a line for TNR... just not
the daily costs of feeding...

5) Suggestions or volunteers in the No. Va area - from those willing to donate food, to those who might be able to feed, to those who know of groups that can help me find food sources... all welcome and desperately needed.

No good deed goes unpunished. So I am sure that I'll get in trouble doing this, but ......sigh.

OMG - what an awful situation...MEGA PRAYERS AND VIBES COMING YOUR WAY
A shelter-owner in Arkansas told me that the manager of their local WalMart gives her the damaged bags, plus allowed her to put up a barrel just outside the store, for donations
Maybe you could call the local 4-H club and maybe some churches, to see if they have a youth group who would like to be involved.
Sure hope you get answers very soon!!! Susan

Well, we are still struggling to find feeders and food, but may have
a stop gap for a month or so.

I am stepping up to the plate, and going to Costco, Wal-Mart and Shoppers Food Warehouse, Safeway, as well as a nearby Giant food store to ask for donations of damaged/broken/torn bags of dry food ONLY. No wet.

I am going to offer to pay a reduced fee (perhaps 1/4 of the value?) if they MUST get money for the items. I don't know how much discretion the store managers have to do this (eg get rid of damaged goods by donation to animal non profits or individuals off the cuff), and its hit or miss on how friendly they are to cats. I am only asking for 1 bag every couple of weeks.

Everyone who reads this send me MASSIVE positive vibes please. I REALLY need the help. With food, I can find feeders - but without food donated,
no one will (rightly too) take this on.

Originally Posted by opilot

Well, we are still struggling to find feeders and food, but may have
a stop gap for a month or so.

I am stepping up to the plate, and going to Costco, Wal-Mart and Shoppers Food Warehouse, Safeway, as well as a nearby Giant food store to ask for donations of damaged/broken/torn bags of dry food ONLY. No wet.

I am going to offer to pay a reduced fee (perhaps 1/4 of the value?) if they MUST get money for the items. I don't know how much discretion the store managers have to do this (eg get rid of damaged goods by donation to animal non profits or individuals off the cuff), and its hit or miss on how friendly they are to cats. I am only asking for 1 bag every couple of weeks.

Everyone who reads this send me MASSIVE positive vibes please. I REALLY need the help. With food, I can find feeders - but without food donated,
no one will (rightly too) take this on.

Click to expand...

You might have better luck going to smaller pet stores - large chains like that would likely return the damaged foods for replacement... My opinion only

Oh, and of course massive vibes going your way!

Thank you. Unfortunately there are no small indie stores where I am. We have a huge Petco and Petsmart, and they have NOT been helpful.

Copule of botiquie dog/cat/whole organic style food stores yes, chains yes, indies no. I live in a suburban hell.

Its going to have to be the biggies. I may also travel out to an outlying
burb and ask there too. There is a southern states out that way, which is a real feed store. But still a chain store....

Massive vibes will be needed.

Don't know what I'll do if I keep getting turned down. Please pray with me for positive vibes and that I hit one or more cat lovers??

Thanks all!

I hope help comes quickly! If I had a better economic situation, I'd send you some bags myself.

Youre doing something i would do if i knew there were 10 sites of hungry cats somewhere Poor KITTIES.. My friend was a waitress and used to bring home food they threw out every night to feed the strays in her neighborhood.. Maybe you could call all the local restaurants in the area and ask if the feeders could get the throw outs..