Charleston, South Carolina – Pounce Cat Cafe + Wine Bar’s pet pantry program helps families make finances meet.
Back-of- House Manager Cai Signori expressed concern for families who rely on Supplemental Nutritional Assistance program services during the prolonged government shutdown.
The South Carolina Department of Social Services says that over 260,000 households received assistance in October.
Families are still facing uncertainty about benefit money as the closure continues.
Households cannot purchase pet food with benefits. According to Signori, pet food can be pricey for families trying to stretch their finances in the face of funding uncertainty.
“It’s just one of those things where when somebody cannot feed themselves, like obviously you, yourself are usually first priority, your kids, and stuff like that,” according to Signori. “So it’s just one of those things where people, you know, they want to do what’s best by their pets and sometimes that means surrendering them, but if we can do anything to keep those cats or dogs, animals out of the shelters.”
Pet supplies are available on the shelves for families in need. Pet owners can get the necessities for free at the business on Meeting Street. The cafe offers a variety of dry cat foods, including chicken and seafood. Cat litter is also offered.
“We’ve just got some wet foods,” Signori adds. “Pretty brand-name stuff, nothing special, but works in a pinch. And the lower shelves are for dog food, so we have both dry and wet food.”
The pantry will be open as long as there is a need.
If there is still food available, management plans to donate it to the Charleston Animal Society.
