Volunteer Eve Pressnell Moore poses with donated pet food and other items inside Johnson County Senior Services. Pressnell Moore helped organize the PAWSitivity program for Johnson County Senior Services, providing pet food for seniors in need.
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A community-wide expression of love took off on Valentine’s Day.
Volunteers and officials with Johnson County Senior Services had heard repeatedly the difficulties older adults in the county were having with living costs. In particular, they were worried about how to care for their beloved pets on top of the bills, medications and other expenses they were incurring.
Their pleas touched Eve Pressnell Moore.
“It broke my heart — they shouldn’t have to choose between themselves and their pets,” said Pressnell Moore, a volunteer for Johnson County Senior Services.
She helped launch the PAWSitivity program on Feb. 14, 2023 at the headquarters of the program partner, GMI Corporation in Franklin.
One year after the program’s launch, PAWSitivity has made a lasting impression on area seniors and the pets they love. Thousands upon thousands of pounds of cat food, dog food, cat litter, treats and other items have been distributed around Johnson County.
Working with Johnson County Animal Control, the program expanded its reach to make sure no senior needed to worry about feeding themselves and their pets at the same time.
“Instead of removing these animals, who may be the only companionship they have, we wanted to see what we could do to help keep these animals in the home, keeping them healthy and the seniors healthy,” said Mike Clark, deputy director of Johnson County Animal Control.
In its mission to support and care for older adults throughout the area, Johnson County Senior Services has maintained a food pantry to deliver food to those in need.
The organization’s New Whiteland headquarters is packed with canned goods, non-perishable food, frozen and fresh items and personal hygiene goods. They’ve also kept a small amount of pet food and supplies on hand in case those were requested.
More and more, clients were asking for those items, Smith said. Never was that more apparent than at the holidays.
“With our Seniors Still Believe Christmas program, these seniors were asking for things for their fur babies rather than themselves,” Smith said.
Pressnell Moore was motivated to act. The longtime volunteer has worked with senior services and other organizations for years, and she felt it was imperative to make sure these seniors received gifts for their pets as well as for themselves.
She phrased it succinctly: Everyone gets something on our watch.
“I didn’t want anybody to have to choose or be left out,” she said.
Research has shown that seniors who have pets enjoy added health benefits. Older adults with who interact with animals have decreased blood pressure, cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, feelings of loneliness, anxiety and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. They also get increased opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities, more chances to socialize and have better cognitive function.
So providing for local seniors and their pets actively contributes to their overall quality of life and well-being, Pressnell Moore said.
“When they have something to care for, it gives them quality and quantity of life,” she said.
Pressnell Moore worked with GMI Corporation to have employees start collecting items and launch the pet campaign in February of 2023. The drive was a success, but everyone involved realized more could be done.
The avenue to do so came when Clark and Johnson County Animal Control reached out to partner with Johnson County Senior Services on an ongoing drive to collect items. Animal control leaders had been looking for ways to become more involved in the community, and often encountered seniors who were having difficulty caring for their pets.
Helping those seniors seemed like a positive for everyone involved, Clark said — particularly animal control officers.
“They go out and see the nasty houses, and the animals being treated horribly. This brings a lighter side to the job,” Clark said. “You take a bag of dog food to an elderly person who can’t afford it or doesn’t have access to it, and the smile on their face and appreciation they have, it really helps the officers see how they can help the community.
The Johnson County Commissioners gave their support for the effort, and in October, a pet drive launched.
“They stepped up to say seniors needs for their pets really matter,” Smith said.
In just the final quarter of 2023, the partnership resulted in serving 998 individuals while distributing 52,165 pounds of food, cat litter, treats and more. More than 12,000 items were distributed, Smith said.
Everyone involved has been energized by the response from the public. Now, they want to keep it growing.
“There are so many people out there that want to find a way to give. Some people are passionate about seniors, some are passionate about pets,” she said. “But the people this really resonates with are the pet owners who also love seniors — it’s been so incredible to see the outpouring of support from the community.”
AT A GLANCE
PAWSitivity
What: A program of Johnson County Senior Services providing pet food to help seniors in need feed their animals.
When: Founded Feb. 14, 2023
How to help: Donations can be made to Johnson County Senior Services at jcseniorservices.org/donate.
