MIDDLEBURG - Safe Animal Shelter at 2913 County Road 220 recently called for kitten food, puppy food and other supplies based on a recent influx of kittens and puppies. Carl Crosby, Vicky Crosby, and Michael Poweleit from The Orange Park Lions Club came to the rescue!

The trio from the Lions Club brought several bags and cans of kitten food and dog food to help with the increased population of animals. Time was also spent at the shelter visiting workers and the animals. One puppy in the lobby drew everyone’s attention. The two-month-old mixed breed loved giving kisses. This adorable pup was found in a grocery bag in a parking lot right before Christmas, and it was only a couple of weeks old. This was only one story of many, in which the no-kill shelter is called upon to help provide homes for abandoned animals.

Safe Animal Shelter is the oldest no-kill shelter in Clay County. It receives no government funding, and the homeless cats and dogs they take in are provided quality care only through private donations. They aim to reduce the number of cats and dogs euthanized in Clay County and Northeast Florida.

The shelter informed us that this is the time of year when the number of kittens and pups found increases, and there is a real need for kitten food, puppy food, litter, and puppy pads. All the great care the animals receive is from community support. All donations are appreciated, and if you can’t help with food, time, money or adoptions, there is a real need for foster homes for the adorable furry friends. Contact the shelter for more information: (904) 375-9122 Hours Wednesday-Sunday Noon-5 p.m.

Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service club organization, with more than 1.4 million members in approximately 46,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas worldwide. The local Orange Park Lions Club just celebrated its 75th anniversary last year. They meet the second and fourth Monday at 7 p.m. at their meeting hall at 423 McIntosh Ave. in Orange Park.

The club provides eyeglasses to those in need, accepts donated used glasses and hearing aids, provides eye exams for those who can't afford them, provides diabetes research, takes part in senior citizen services, helps local food banks, and many other services like the Safe Animal Shelter. Those who are interested can drop in at a meeting or call (904) 264-5866.