I used to live in Temecula, California so this story caught my eye. It's just a feel good read. Enjoy.

10:00 PM PST on Sunday, February 6, 2011

By McLEAN
Barbara Inlandsocal.Com/Pets

It's often said that a little kindness goes a long way and that's certainly a perspective that Imogene Barry, of Wildomar, has thanks to the efforts of a Temecula couple who began collecting pet food for people in need.

Like many senior citizens 86-year-old Barry, a widow for 21 years, has found making ends meet in the current economy tough and giving up her German shepherd, Lady Jane, was not an option.

Last November Temecula couple Jan Baron and Barry Ebling began collecting pet food as part of Pets of the Homeless, a nonprofit organization based in Nevada. They solicited businesses to be donation sites and also distributed door hangers

"There have been so many pets turned in due to foreclosure," said Ebling, "An older dog or cat, especially if they have a physical problem, don't stand a chance at a shelter."

They hope that providing pet food will help people keep their pets. Each week Barry and Lady Jane hop in the car for the drive to the Senior Citizens Service Center on Eastman Drive in Murrieta where they pick up food for them both.

"This has been very helpful to us," said Jan Hannan, board secretary, "We were finding that many of the seniors were sharing their own food with their pets just so they could keep them."

Thanks to the efforts of a Temecula couple, Imogene Barry and her dog, Lady Jane, can get pet food at the Senior Citizens Service Center in Murrieta.Hannan said about one out of four people who take advantage of the food program receive pet food and the number is growing as the word gets out. The center also serves as a collection point for pet and people food as well as a distribution center to seniors, low-income and the homeless.

Ebling and Baron also work with CAYA Homeless Ministries in Riverside to provide food for homeless people with pets and each Friday the owners of Moreno Valley Plumbing provide a hot dog lunch for homeless folks and they are also able to pick up pet food that has been collected by the couple.

For more information on Food for the Homeless you can reach them at 951-334-3504.

Donation locations:

Sharps Hardware, 1925 W. Florida Ave., Hemet

Moreno Valley Plumbing, 24457 Sunnymead Blvd., Moreno Valley

Carpet Time, 23071 Sunnymead Blvd., Moreno Valley

Petco, 24480 Village Walk Place, Murrieta

NAMERRS Vinyl Works, 1156 Sunset Cliffs, Hemet

PHOTO CREDIT: Thanks to the efforts of a Temecula couple, Imogene Barry and her dog, Lady Jane, can get pet food at the Senior Citizens Service Center in Murrieta. Photo: Press Enterprise