Paw it Forward talks the importance of volunteers

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Valley Stream-based pet pantry Paw it Forward was busier than ever before during the pandemic, according to its founder Danielle Scala-Nathan. With people out of work and struggling to get by, some could barely feed themselves, let alone their pets, she said. As workplaces reopen, however, there are still pet owners in need of assistance, but fewer volunteers to help “paw it forward.”           

“The pet owners during Covid, they were struggling,” Scala-Nathan explained that her organization’s mission is to provide pet food and supplies to those facing financial hardship. During the pandemic, she said that many people were going without food for themselves so they could ensure their pets were fed.

“. . .We wanted to make sure they weren’t going to turn [their pets] into the shelter — re-home them . . . We can ‘paw it forward’ to them so that their pet is taken care of . . . So they don’t have to surrender them when they can’t afford to feed them,” she said.

Scala-Nathan said people have less time to volunteer now that they’ve returned to work. To garner interest in volunteering and to educate the community about the work Paw it Forward does, Scala-Nathan participated in her first vendor event on Saturday, June 12 since Covid-19 first struck last March. The event was held by the Mineola Public Library and also featured Long Road Home Rescue, Inc. and Lend-a-Paw Inc., both of which are run by Nancy Pablon, who has volunteered with the pet pantry for five years. 

“Volunteers are the backbone of any kind of . . . charitable organization. Without volunteers, we can’t survive,” Pabon said of the need for additional volunteers at the pantry. While she spends around 20 hours a month volunteering with the pantry, she said people can commit whatever amount of time they’re able to give. Giving time to the pantry can also help young adults fulfill community service requirements, she noted.

Nathan-Scala said there are various volunteer opportunities with Paw it Forward. While volunteers help with picking up and transporting donations, they can also assist with distributions or even by “sharing” on social media. 

“I just think that it’s a very humane and decent thing to do . . . I think it’s an important thing to be able to have the ability to take something when you need it but then to turn around and give it back. Whether it’s cat food that you purchase for the pantry, cat litter, dog food, coats, beds, whatever it is — or if you’re not able to financially do that, the physical aspect of it,” Shari Ehrlich, a former Valley Stream resident who has been a recipient and a volunteer said she’s thankful she came across Scala-Nathan and her organization.

Paw it Forward will be returning to the Mineola library for another event in August. Now that the Covid restrictions have been lifted, Scala-Nathan is hoping to participate in more events to raise awareness about the organization and volunteer opportunities.

“People came down with donations, and we were able to get our word out,” Nathan-Scala said of the recent event. “People even came back to us with donations after they were there at the library. . . It was definitely a good first vendor event since Covid.” 

Those interested in volunteering with Paw it Forward can email happypawitforward@gmail.com for more information.