As Tinman Tuesday Kilgetty and Surrounding Areas collections resumed on January 12, so did the generosity of the locals.

The first Tinman Kilgetty pick up of the year resulted in the car being stacked with tins, packet food, toiletry and baby products. These items were later picked up by volunteer driver, Russell for Pembrokeshire Foodbank.

Following a request by PATCH people also donated carrier bags and Lyn, Kilgetty, kindly stitched and donated material bags made from curtains. These were dropped off at a PATCH collection point.

With increasing acts of kindness, the generosity of the community didn’t stop there; in addition to the usual donations people put out tins and packets of pet food and treats for Cariad Pet Food Bank.

The Haverfordwest based Cariad Pet Food Bank are working to support pets and pet owners during hardship and adjustment in Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion. This is a project by Cariad Pet Therapy CIC funded by the WCVA in response to COVID-19.

“Cariad Pet Food Bank Project manager, Robert Thomas, said: “We have been so pleased with the support from the community with so many kind pet food donations since we opened in January, including an amazing collection from the team at Tin Man Tuesday which we are extremely grateful for. This helps us to deliver, arrange for collection or post pet food parcels to those most in need, where pets are a lifeline and provide a sense of wellbeing during these difficult times. It is important that pets remain in their homes with their owners, not ending up in rehoming centres due to financial difficulties.”

Tinman Tuesday’s Dorothy and ToTo (Sharron Hardwick and Travis!) dropped off the donated pet food items outside of the Pet Food Bank fulfilment shop where they were pleased to meet Gryff, the Cariad Pet Therapy CIC mascot!

“It is great to be able to support Cariad Pet Food Bank as well as Pembrokeshire Foodbank and PATCH. We thank all of the local people for their kindness and generosity. It’s quite moving when you are out doing the Tinman collections, knowing that so many people care about others who are facing difficult times. We thank the volunteers who work sorting and distributing the donated items too,” shared Sharron, Tinman Tuesday Kilgetty and Surrounding areas.

The next Tinman Tuesday Kilgetty And Surrounding Areas collection is due to take place on Tuesday, February 16. Collections have been reduced to once a month in line with travel restrictions.

If you would like to donate essential food, pet food or toiletries, please contact @TinmnaTuesdayKilgetty on Facebook or email: [email protected]

The Foodbanks are requesting tinned, packet and dried food, including drinks like UHT milk, tea, coffee and soft drinks. Foods should have at least three months on the ‘use by’ date. Items such as baby products, toilet rolls, sanitary products, toothpaste and other toiletries, household cleaning products and pet food are also accepted.

For information about Cariad Pet Food Bank and how to apply or to donate, visit: www.cariadpetfoodbank.co.uk Email: [email protected], call 01437 621270 or find them on Facebook.