As the holiday season continues throughout the area, staff at the Elizabethton/Carter County Public Library are to help out when possible.

Continuing the trend, library staff recently announced a food donation drive to benefit East Tennessee Spay & Neuter is underway throughout the remainder of November and December.

During regular business hours, residents are encouraged to stop by a make a donation of dry dog or cat food – excluding Ol’ Roy – or treats, which will be used to benefit the the spay/neuter organization’s food pantry.

“The food pantry is projected to soon run dry due to finances and this is food that would go to low-income individuals so they can feed their animals,” said Maryann Owen with the library.

ETSN offers monthly pet food pantry distributions for low-income pet owners who are residents in Carter County with a total family income of $25,000 or less.

According to the organization’s website, the purpose of the pet food pantry is to:

• Help pet owners keep their current pets fed and healthy
• Be used as a temporary, six-month supplement
• Not be used to help people get new pets they can’t afford care for
• Not be used to help anyone breed new puppies or kittens

ETSN reportedly assists around 550 pets at a cost of approximately $1,000 per month. Interviews and registration are held Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon at the purple located outside Tractor Supply in Elizabethton.

Along with the library’s food drive, ETSN also announced their winter schedule is now set for their new “Critter Care Cruiser”.

Due to funds provided by the Glenda Taylor DeLawder Estate, the organization was about to convert an RV to be used as a mobile center to offer vaccinations and wellness checkups for pets. ETSN announced they will set up at the TLC Community Center in Stoney Creek during the first and third Saturday of each month from December to March, weather permitting.

Residents can make a donation to the food pantry by visiting the public library or by contacting the group. For more information, visit the ETSN website or call (423) 289-5548.