Photo above L to R: Roger Finn (volunteer), Pam Finn (volunteer), Morgan Hultquist (Meals on Wheels America), Melisa Pratt (PetSmart Charities, Community Partnerships), Aimee Gilbreath (PetSmart Charities, President), Jeff Lorig (Prescott Meals on Wheels), Neal Sneller (Prescott Meals on Wheels, Executive Director), Ashley Hall (Prescott Meals on Wheels), Adam Young (Prescott Meals on Wheels).
A look at the program that feeds our neighbors’ furry companions, and why that matters more than you might think.
When most people think of Prescott Meals on Wheels, they picture warm meals delivered to homebound seniors, and they’re right. But for more than 50 of our neighbors, every delivery comes with something extra: pet food for the cats and dogs who make their world complete.
That’s Animeals, and it’s one of the most heartfelt programs we run.
Why pets matter to our mission
Isolation and loneliness are among the greatest threats to our neighbors’ wellbeing. Pets reduce those feelings in ways that are hard to overstate. They provide routine, comfort, and a reason to get up in the morning. For a homebound neighbor who may not see another person outside of our volunteers, a dog or cat isn’t just a companion, they’re a lifeline.
Our AniMeals program delivers supplemental pet food once a week, entirely funded by community donations, local vet clinics, and feed stores. Last year, that added up to over 5,000 pet meals delivered to more than 50 neighbors across Prescott and Prescott Valley.
A grant that helped us tell the story
In 2025, we were honored to receive a $6,000 Meals on Wheels Loves Pets Storytelling Grant, awarded jointly through Meals on Wheels America and PetSmart Charities. The grant gave us the resources to hire professional videographers and photographers, Steven and Brianna Kingsley of Dork Social Club, who know our mission and have seen firsthand the difference our work makes.
With the help of our Client Services team, we identified three neighbors willing to share their stories: Kathryn and Adam (whose cat Simba was a comfort through Adam’s cancer treatments in Phoenix), Deborah (whose emotional support dog Rusty is her entire world), and Denise (who lives in a small camper but says her dog Marley makes everything brighter).
Snippets from resulting video have been viewed over 171,000 times on YouTube. The photos have appeared in every Arizona State Tax Credit thank-you letter, reaching roughly 3,000 donors, as well as in local newspaper ads, on our website’s AniMeals page, and on the welcome screen in our dining room.
A visit that validated everything
In April 2026, our Animeals work drew the attention of Meals on Wheels America and PetSmart Charities at the highest level. Aimee Gilbreath, President of PetSmart Charities, made her very first visit to a Meals on Wheels site right here in Prescott – alongside Morgan Hultquist of Meals on Wheels America.
After the visit, both Morgan and Ellie Hollander, President and CEO of Meals on Wheels America, sent personal emails commending our team. They called the experience “top tier” and said they were especially impressed with our Animeals program and how we’ve put the Storytelling Grant to work. It was a proud moment for our entire organization – volunteers, staff, and the neighbors who opened their homes and shared their stories.
This positive experience with Meals on Wheels America and PetSmart Charities opens up new grant opportunities for expanding our services for neighbors and their pets. We recently applied for a $30,000 grant to do just that. More to come, and we’ll keep you posted!
