She helps people in need feed their beloved pets!

When Eileen Lambert started volunteering at an animal shelter and saw far too many pets being relinquished because their owners couldn't afford to feed them, she followed her heart and has kept thousands of animals with the families who love them!

- Jen Reeder 

As she was about to turn 40, Eileen Lambert found herself asking, What am I doing with my life? She and her husband, Matt, had been trying to have a baby for years, but she’d suffered two miscarriages. She enjoyed working in marketing but longed to do something more meaningful.

Eileen had always loved animals. She had recently started volunteering at an animal shelter. But even there, she wished she could do more. Too often, people surrendered animals that they clearly loved.

The staff told Eileen the top reasons people gave up their pets had to do with financial challenges: housing, veterinary care and pet food. Eileen’s heart ached. But then she heard about a pet food bank in Atlanta that offered free pet food, collars, leashes and other supplies to anyone in need. And inspiration struck.

Oh my gosh, I can do this here! she thought.

Heartfelt mission

In 2013, Eileen quit her job and founded the nonprofit Colorado Pet Pantry (ColoradoPetPantry.org) in Boulder, Colorado—and promptly found out she was pregnant. That exciting news made her wonder if she should try to get her job back, but her heart was too invested in her pet project. That year, Eileen grew her organization and nurtured her baby.

Eileen thought she would have to rent a building to house her pantry, but, by luck, she met the executive director of a local food bank, who loved what she was doing. He explained that food stamps can’t be used to buy pet food, so people facing financial challenges or experiencing homelessness often give human food to pets before feeding themselves. And he had an idea.