Betty Crawford, founder of 4 Paws Pantry, stands with Humane Educational Society Director Bob Citrullo at HES, where the pantry recently relocated.After three years in Red Bank, 4 Paws Pantry is partnering with – as well as sharing a building with – Chattanooga’s Humane Educational Society downtown. 4 Paws provides free pet food to Hamilton Country residents in need who would otherwise be forced to give up their animals.
Founder Betty Crawford said the reason for the move was partly a matter of economics.
“I wanted to continue with the food bank but I couldn’t afford to keep paying the bills,” she said, adding that the nonprofit pet pantry would need to raise $10,000 a year just to cover rent and utilities for its former space in Red Bank.
So HES Director Bob Citrullo invited Crawford to move the pantry to HES, allowing the small nonprofit pantry to now put all the money it raises toward helping animals in Hamilton County, a cause it shares with HES.
Citrullo said he was all too aware of the need for the pantry, which exists throughout the county. He often referred people to Crawford who came to HES to ask for assistance with food, and he would drop off bags of food at the pantry that had been donated to HES.