More than 1,300 Nestlé Purina Associates Help St. Louis Region's People & Pets on PetCare Pride Day
St. Louis-based Nestlé Purina associates volunteered at sites around the metropolitan area May 19
More than 1,300 Nestlé Purina associates used their hands, paint brushes, hammers and shovels to make a difference in the lives of the region’s pets, children, seniors and veterans. The efforts were all part of the Company’s 14th Annual Petcare Pride Day volunteer event May 19.
This year’s PetCare Pride Day, the Company’s community service and teambuilding event, coincided with Nestlé Purina’s Paw It Forward movement during National Pet Month, which is designed to encourage pet owners to spend more quality time with their pets and help pets in need.
Purina associates spent the morning on projects at several off-site locations, including the Lucas Park Dog Park in downtown St. Louis, Gateway Pet Guardians Shelter in Dogtown and the Carol House Quick Fix Clinic on Jefferson Avenue.
On campus that morning, associates built dog houses, cat scratching posts and toy boxes, made blankets for babies and pets and assembled care and meal kits for the area’s homeless population.
Gateway Pet Guardians also brought adoptable dogs to campus to visit with associates and help the dogs find forever homes when the day’s work was over.
St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay joined Nestlé Purina CEO Joe Sivewright for the event's closing ceremony.
Projects around the metropolitan area where Nestlé Purina associates volunteered May 19 included:
- Lucas Park Dog Park – Sponsored by Beneful® brand dog food and the Nestlé Purina Innovation Group, this landscaping, painting and turf installation project occured in the park at North 14th Street between St. Charles and Locust streets downtown. The renovations will be unveiled during a grand opening ceremony June 26 during National Bring Your Pet to Work Day.
- Carol House Quick Fix Pet Clinic – Associates painted, redecorated and organized rooms at the clinic, 1218 S. Jefferson Ave.
- Gene Slay's Boys’ Club – Associates landscaped property around the Boys’ Club at 2524 S. 11th St.
- Brightside St. Louis and Creve Coeur Park – Sponsored by Purina’s volunteer Green Paws sustainability team, these sites near Soulard Market and in Creve Coeur Park benefitted from landscaping and maintenance work.
- Gateway Pet Guardians – Associates spruced up the outdoor play yard at the animal shelter at 5321 Manchester Ave.
Pet therapy teams and individual associates visited and played games with residents at both Grand Manor in Swansea, Ill., and the Missouri Veteran’s Home in Florissant, Mo.
About Nestlé Purina PetCare
Nestlé Purina PetCare promotes responsible pet care, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. A premiere global manufacturer of pet products, Nestlé Purina PetCare is part of Swiss-based Nestlé S.A., a global leader in nutrition, health and wellness.
About National Pet Month – Paw It Forward Movement
Purina teamed up with pro football wide receiver Eric Decker and his wife, Jessie Decker, a country music star, to kick off the Paw It Forward movement on May 1 in New York City. Pet lovers everywhere can visit PureLoveForPets.com throughout the month of May to learn more, upload a photo or video to prompt a Purina donation to the Petfinder Foundation (up to $30,000) and enter a sweepstakes to win Purina coupons and prizes.
For further information: For more information, contact Keith Schopp at Nestlé Purina.
kschopp@purina.com
314.378.0465 mobile / 314.982.2577 office
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