SWAMPSCOTT — The Residence at Vinnin Square has started the first round of their quarterly donation drive for the year, supporting the Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem until March 1.
Sernior Sales and Marketing Director of The Residence at Vinnin Square Mimi Brophy said they are asking for wet and dry dog and cat food, kitty litter, new toys, leashes and food, and water bowls. People wanting to donate can drop items off in their drop box at The Residence at Vinnin Square.
“Animals give so much back to us humans, they’re a way to calm fears, they’re a way to bring joy, they help alleviate loneliness, and so what we want to do is help our fellow pets here to have better lives while they’re in a shelter, be well cared for until they find their forever home,” Brophy said.
Many of the residents have pets of their own, Brophy said, and resident Betty Smith even has a cat from Northeast Animal Shelter. Making those local connections is part of what The Residence at Vinnin Square strives for and giving back to the local community is important, Brophy said.
“As a company our goal is what our business is, helping seniors and caring for seniors and supporting them as well as their families, and so on. On a greater extent in that, being able to support our fellow human beings and support our communities,” Brophy said.
The residents are able to participate in the drive by collecting items that come in and organizing donations.
“We want to just be able to give back and it’s a way for our residents and their families to also participate in that process,” Brophy said. “Also we have a number of independent residents here that are still driving and able to go out and purchase something maybe to donate and it’s a way for them to feel like they’re giving back to the community,”
After the pet donation drive is over, residents will get to take the donations to the Northeast Animal Shelter, she said.
“Residents have found their forever home here so one of the reasons that we’re doing the donation is to support the Northeast Animal Shelter, until all of their animals find their own forever home,” Brophy said.
For the other three rounds of donations, they will be collecting eyeglasses and hearing aids from April through June, backpacks and school supplies for July through September, and then a food drive for October through December.