RICHMOND HEIGHTS, Ohio —  Nonprofit organization, CC’s Cupboard Pet Food Pantry, opened its doors in January of this year to help pet owners experiencing financial instability by providing them with free food and pet supplies.

Co-founder Danielle Varanese says two months after opening, as COVID-19 impacts started being felt across Northeast Ohio, the need grew tremendously. 

“We knew people were starting to lose their jobs and everything going around. It was really starting to be needed even more than normal,” said Varanese.

Located in a back room of Kelli’s K-9 Kingdom doggie daycare in Richmond Heights, CC’s Cupboard is filled with food and supplies for all types of animals.

“Hamsters, gerbils, fish, birds, we’ve fed rabbits, we fed a turtle, we have fed a horse,” Varanese said. 

Dozens of food donations are made each week and pickups are held the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month.

“We survive solely on donations, and whether it be food, litter, our monetary donations, that's basically how we survive,” Varanese said.

Co-founder Sherie Coffey says just as quickly as it’s filled, it’s emptied and the CC’s Cupboard team has put a system in place to allow donation drop-offs and pantry pick-ups to happen safely, while following social distancing guidelines. 

“We have somebody running to the car asking them what they need, then the runner comes to the pantry and we get either for a cat, dog or whatever type of animal they have, and then we have somebody else who brings it to the car, right into the trunk of the car, so nobody gets out of the car,” said Coffey.

Kelli's K-9 Kingdom Owner Kelli Coleman says too often pet owners find a new home for their pet or have to surrender their pet to a shelter, simply because they could not afford to feed them. She says the pantry was created to ensure no pet owner in Northeast Ohio would have to make that choice— especially during the coronavirus pandemic. 

“They're very very thankful, they cry, they can't thank us enough, because they don't know how they're going to feed their pets,” said Coleman.

“It’s a great feeling to be able to help other people that need the help as animal lovers, as we are. We've been in the field for 20 years, all of us. We are happy that we can do what we can for them.” Varanese said.

CC’s Cupboard also offers pet supplies such as leashes , toys, collars and bowls bowels.