When pondering whether the Dr. John P. Ruffing Pet Food Pantry could assist members of the Guild during their third holiday season on strike, I didn't find it a difficult decision. Technically, it's been month 26, marking the longest ongoing strike in the United States. Our pet food pantry was established to bridge service gaps. We initially distributed food to cat colony caretakers and have since expanded to serve some moderate-income pet owners.

How the Pantry Can Make a Difference

When I inquired of Steve Mellon, a striking Pittsburgh Post-Gazette employee and the chair of the Guild's Health and Welfare Committee, about whether any members had pets, I discovered that they do. This clearly presents a gap that our small pantry can address. With your support, we can make a significant impact.Let's outline the specific details so you can choose your preferred mode of donation. PLC appeals to every pet owner, especially those in union families, to consider making a donation. Donations of dog and cat food, both dry and canned, are warmly welcomed. The project has a wishlist available at bit.ly/TheRuffList.Drop-off locations for pet food donations are as follows:- US Steel Workers lobby at 60 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.- 1213 W. North Avenue (with some steps), Manchester 15233.- 1440 Faulsey Way (backyard address), Manchester 15233. Look for the yellow #PghCatFolx sign and the patio bin to secure your donation.Financial donations are also accepted. You can make a GoFundMe donation at bit.ly/GivePghCatFolx. Venmo donations can be made to @PittsburghLGBTQ, and PayPal.me/PittsburghLGBTQ is also an option. Checks can be made payable to Pittsburgh LGBTQ Charities and mailed to 1439 W. North Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15233. Please write "pet food" in the memo section.The drive to support the striking pet owners will continue into January 2025. Eligible caretakers can register at any time via bit.ly/PetFolxPetFoodPantry. Representatives of Pittsburgh LGBTQ Charities and the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh are available for comment. Social dogs are also available for on-camera appearances and being petted for snacks.People have a deep affection for their pets and will go to great lengths to provide basic necessities like food. Pet food prices have been significantly affected by inflation, with increases ranging from 14% to 44% across all pet foods. Rising costs of raw ingredients, labor costs, and market shifts towards higher-end products at the expense of mid-range foods have all played a part. The potential impact of new tariffs, especially on raw ingredients, could be extremely detrimental.My recent experience has been disheartening. I search for reasonably priced items to add to the pantry wish list, but it's a struggle to find dry food for even a very small bag at under $20. I purchase very low-end, large bags of food for the feral community cats and combine them with more appealing smaller bags to balance nutrition with taste and the calories they need to survive the winter.When we tighten our belts, we can explain to humans, big and small, why we have to eat things we don't love. But it's a different story when it comes to cats. The pantry will continue to support the striking pet owners as long as possible. It's a simple way to show our support for neighbors fighting to restore Pittsburgh's values to one of America's great newspapers.I have personally reached out to every labor local and council I could identify in the region, asking them to contribute, no matter how small. There are pet owners in every union, and I hope this message resonates with them.Let's come together and make a difference for these pet owners and their furry friends.