Home Depot, Premier Pet Supply support Chuck Waggin Pet Food Pantry with donations, labor

Patricia Alvord, Livingston Daily

December 11, 2022 at 9:30 PM·3 min read

As April Tyler watches at left, Home Depot volunteers Derek Shortt, center, and Jeromy Helm unload cabinets to store pet supplies for the Chuck Waggin Pet Food Pantry Friday, Dec. 9, 2022.

TYRONE TOWNSHIP - Brighton Home Depot employees volunteered their time Friday to install shelving in April Tyler's garage so the space can become a warehouse to store pet food.

Tyler is the proud founder of Chuck Waggin Pet Food Pantry, a year-old mobile pet food pantry that serves the Livingston County area, and she has big plans for her space.

"It makes my heart smile," she said Friday upon the arrival of 1,500 pounds - or 60 bags - of dog food.

A $5,600 Team Depot successful grant application is helping her build the food pantry that could help pet owners in need, and Tyler is hoping to stock the shelves with both dog and cat food.

She didn't have to go looking for the grant that transformed her garage, and others have become interested in Tyler, whose efforts include working with Blue Star Service Dogs in Pinckney. The group is known to rescue shelter dogs, train them, and pair them with veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injuries.

"Every store throughout the company participates in this program and what we do is we find nonprofit organizations that support our local communities and veterans in our community," Brighton Home Depot Specialty Assistant Store Manager Megan Carnell said.

During the pandemic, Tyler said she saw a need for people and pets as she volunteered at Gleaner's Community Food Bank.

Tyler shared that she always carried pet treats in her pockets while delivering groceries to cars but she never had pet food for those reliant on the food bank. She was inspired to create the Chuck Waggin Pet Food Pantry.

Over the last six months, Tyler said the Chuck Waggin nonprofit has donated 25,000 pounds of food to local food banks and just this year she and a handful of volunteers started visiting different food banks across the county.

Tyler now visits three local food banks throughout the month:

Arise Church Food Pantry - 11211 Dexter-Pinckney Road, every second Saturday of the month
St. Joseph Church Food Pantry- 440 E. Washington St., Howell, every first Saturday of the month
Active Faith Food Pantry - 401 S. Washington St., South Lyon, every third Monday of the months from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Through some research, Carnell discovered Chuck Waggin Pet Food Pantry and she reached out to Tyler to find out what the nonprofit does, its mission statement and its needs. Carnell said she formed a special bond with Tyler because of how she got her dog.

"I've taken in animals for people because they could not afford to keep them, so what she does is very near and dear to my heart," Carnell said. "That's how I got my dogs."

While doing her research, Carnell learned Tyler was struggling with storage.

"We decided to put in some nice cabinets and storage shelves for her to be able to have a functional area to drive her nonprofit organization," Carnell said. "I'm super happy to do it. I'm excited to increase April's ability to continue to serve our community and help those in need."

Another Brighton business, Premier Pet Supply also wanted to support Tyler's nonprofit. Co-owners Brandon Thorne and Mike Palmer opened their 13th Michigan location but the first in Livingston County on Nov. 1.

Thorne said his customers actually directed him and Palmer to the pet food pantry.

"I think our reputation throughout metro Detroit is that we love to help as many rescues and (as) many different dog or pet organizations (as) we can," Thorne said. "Our customers have been so wonderful and they give us a couple different rescues in the area that need help and their pantry came up."

With Brighton Home Depot specialty assistant store manager Megan Carnell at left, Chuck Waggin Pet Food Pantry owner April Tyler calls out 'Derek, we like the design' to Home Depot kitchen designer Derek Shortt Friday, Dec. 9, 2022.

He added that they met Tyler at the pet expo in Novi and heard about what Tyler does and her work with veterans. They were immediately on board.

"It was just something we had to be a part of," Thorne said.

For those interested in volunteering, donating or are in need themselves, contact Tyler at 810-280-7317 or email her at chuckwagginpet@gmail.com

Contact Livingston Daily reporter Patricia Alvord at palvord@livingstondaily.com about news coverage.

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Mobile Chuck Waggin Pet Food Pantry in Livingston County gets help from businesses

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