Nobody should have to give up their animal because they can't afford to feed it.
Dixie
What we do
We collect donated pet food and supplies, and we give them to people who need
them. That's the whole of it.
Noah's Ark Pet Bank operates out of Westminster, Colorado, and serves people across the
surrounding Denver metro area. Most of the people we help are unhoused or close to it, and
most of them are feeding their animal before they feed themselves. A bag of kibble is a small
thing to hand someone. It is often the thing that lets them keep a companion they would
otherwise have to surrender.
We are volunteer-run, and the pet bank is run out of Donna’s home in Westminster. There is no warehouse, no office, no paid staff and no overhead worth mentioning. Food comes in each week and goes back out the same way.
Our story
Donna Rangel founded Noah's Ark Pet Bank in June 2023, and the organization was recognized as
a nonprofit later that year. She started it for a straightforward reason: she kept meeting
people living rough who had a dog or a cat with them, and there was food assistance for the
person and nothing for the animal.
The work took shape quickly. By the end of that first partial year there was a weekly
collection route, a quarterly one, and a steady flow of supplies moving out to people who
needed them.
Animals we've fostered
Fostering a pupBottle-feeding a foster kitten
Where the food comes from
This is where it begins. Many people donate, and many more sort and label.
One place I pick up is out of someone's garage. Another person picks up extra from a shelter and drops it off there for me.
My shelves getting stocked is a blessing to the community.
A meeting place, where I drop off the dog food.
Almost everything we distribute is donated in kind, by organizations with more supply than
they can use and by individuals who want to help.
A weekly pickup — someone local who works with animal donations sets aside surplus food and supplies for us, and we go and collect it. This is the backbone of what we hand out.
A quarterly pickup — a larger load from a Colorado pet-food charity we hold a membership with.
Individual donors — bags, cans, leashes, bowls, and occasionally cash for
something specific, like kitten formula.
We are always looking for another regular source. If your shelter, store, church or rescue
has surplus pet food, we will come and collect it.
The numbers
We are small and we would rather be plain about it than impressive about it.
2023 · half a year
$11,525In food, supplies and cash received between June and
December. Twenty-six weekly pickups in six months.
2024 · first full year
$27,525Received across the year, of which $27,080 went back out to
people and their animals.
Cash, in 2023
$125The entire cash total for the year. Everything else arrived as
food and supplies, and left the same way.
Nearly everything that comes in goes out again within the week. What little we hold at any
moment is the stock on the shelf.
If you need pet food, ask us
You do not need to prove anything to us, and there is no wrong way to ask. Send an email
and tell us what animals you have and roughly where you are, and we will tell you when and
where we can get supplies to you.
You don't need a permanent address to get help, and we'll meet you wherever works for you.
Three kinds of help, all of them useful. We are not set up to take money yet.
Food and supplies
Dry dog and cat food is what we run through fastest. We also take treats, bowls,
leashes, collars, litter and kitten formula. Email us and we will arrange a drop-off or
come and collect it.
Your time
Collection runs, sorting, distribution days, and help finding new donation partners.
Regular hours are welcome and so is one afternoon.
A standing supply
If you run a shelter, rescue, pet store, grocery or church food bank, a recurring
donation of surplus stock is the single most valuable thing anyone gives us.
We love all the donations that come in! Even if just a bag of cat food.
We receive more than just animal foods.Thank you to another wonderful donation.
