The Suffolk Sheriff’s Office delivered pet goods to the Suffolk Humane Society through the office’s annual Pet Pantry collection drive.

The Suffolk Sheriff’s Office was at the Kroger Marketplace on University Boulevard on Jan. 31 to collect donations for the Suffolk Humane Society. According to Community Engagement Coordinator Katie Jones, they collected more than 500 pounds of dog and cat food, plus toys and other treats.

All of the Suffolk Sheriff’s Office employees that assisted at the event also have rescue pets of their own, and “almost everyone that donated shared stories of their own animals,” according to Jones.

“The community never lets us down on any charitable event that we host. They are always generous,” Jones wrote in an email. “We knew we were off to a good start with our first donation of a 50-pound bag of dog food…followed by a donation from a 4-year-old.”

The Sheriff’s Office donates to the Suffolk Humane Society each year to help replenish its food supplies, especially during the winter months, Jones wrote.

The Suffolk Humane Society is a private non-profit that’s primarily run through the help of dedicated volunteers. The society works to provide education and information about the plight of homeless animals, and to educate on spay/neuter programs, according to suffolkhumanesociety.com.

According to Kerri Shallcross, the executive director for the Suffolk Humane Society, these donated supplies will go towards the society’s foster program, and to Suffolk residents that need some help feeding their pets.

“We are so very lucky to have the Sheriff’s Office hold these food drives for us,” Shallcross wrote in an email. “There are so many non-profits in need, and they choose us to support. They have a special place in our hearts.”