Tiptree Pet Food Bank owner devastated to stop service

Jamie Cross, 35, set up the Tiptree Pet Foodbank from her home in 2022.

The food bank has received donations from Pets at Home Maldon and Chelmsford, Tiptree Veterinary Centre, Clarks Farm Greyhound Rehoming Centre, residents of Tiptree and the surrounding areas.

The donations have helped residents struggling with the cost of living crisis, as well as animal charities who are low in their food supplies.

She donated food as well as pet items such as metal feeding bowls, towels, blankets, bedding, collars, leads and toys.

Ms Cross hopes someone will be able to step forward to take over the food bank which has helped so many.

She currently runs the service by storing donated pet food in two sheds in her back garden.

She said: “I'm gutted to have to close, but storage has always been a huge problem sadly.

Cramped - small storage area currently used to run the food bank (Image: Jamie Cross)

“I currently run it out of my back garden.

"I have two Keter sheds that I use and anything easily accessible like bags of dry food goes into boxes to deter rodents.

"It just isn't enough sadly.”

She regularly collects donations from Chelmsford and Maldon, stores and logs the stock and organises and delivers parcels when requested.

Many of the people she helps are said to be elderly or working families who are struggling with costs.

Ms Cross said: “I guess my biggest thing is that people shouldn't be forced to choose between feeding themselves or their pets, especially if they have owned said pets for years.

“Pets are such a huge support to people, boosting their mental health and often helping them stick to a routine.

“The variety of people that have used my food bank just further highlights the state of the country, because they have all been working families or older owners in difficult situations due to circumstances out of their control.”