BANGOR – Meals for Me has gone to the dogs – and cats and birds and any other nonhuman companion that a senior may have.

As the nutrition program of Eastern Agency on Aging, Meals for Me has always served noontime meals to older people – either in community dining rooms or to the frail and homebound through delivery. The program’s goal is to ensure that seniors have at least one well-balanced meal a day.

But now, realizing that man cannot live by bread alone, and that pets are important to a senior’s well-being, Meals for Me has teamed up with Furry Friends Food Bank.

“We’re a nonprofit agency that’s dedicated to preserving the special bond between seniors and their pets by providing food and basic animal care supplies, at no cost, to those who need it,” said Gayle Rowe, founder and volunteer director of Furry Friends Food Bank.

“And sometimes, older people have trouble keeping up with pet care, such as proper feeding,” she said. “Our mission is to help them, which we hope will allow them to keep their beloved pets longer.”

Rowe never wants to hear of seniors having to give up their animals because they couldn’t afford to keep them.

“Animals provide comfort day and night, they don’t mind being told the same story over and over again, and they provide companionship and unconditional love,” she said. “But they need proper nutrition and attention to survive. Providing this to a pet actually makes a person feel needed and useful. Pets can give seniors a sense of purpose.”

Studies have found that pet owners visit their doctors less often and use less medicine, said Rowe.

“People also recover faster from surgery and illness, tend to deal better with stressful situations, and are less likely to feel lonely,” she said. “The need for social contact and support is often not met for older individuals who may have lost friends and family members.”

Rowe has personal experience with this scenario.

“My grandfather lived in Alton and at 84 was homebound and ill,” she said. “After my grandmother died, his little dog, Buddy, was the only reason he got up in the morning, the only thing that kept him alive. We all tried to help him out, but it was tough.

“Oftentimes, people who receive portable meal assistance share their own food with their animals, as they either can’t afford pet food or are not physically able get out and purchase it,” Rowe said. “I know my grandfather did with his home-delivered meal. That was kind of my basis for starting Furry Friends Food Bank and bringing it to Meals for Me. By working together, we will help seniors with their own nutritional needs while assisting them with their animals’ needs.”

The pet care items will be delivered, by Rowe or by volunteers, to the Meals for Me dining rooms or distributed along with the home delivery meal right to a senior’s door.

While Meals for Me is delighted to be part of this mission, it’s not necessary to be a Meals for Me client to receive pet care assistance. It is available to any senior who needs it, by calling Eastern Agency on Aging.

Rowe’s efforts would not be possible if not for the generosity of the Brewer Wal-Mart SuperCenter. Committed to excellence in retail, the store is also committed to the community.

“Instead of just throwing away the pet food that we can’t sell, such as torn bags of dog food, we want to give it away to those who can use it,” said Tammy Michaels, community relations coordinator for Wal-Mart. “We also donate to local animal shelters such as the Humane Society. And it is not just for pets. Other items, such as baby diapers, have been given to food cupboards and hospitals. We just want to help out.”

And what a help it is. Rowe gets the pet food; sorts it; repackages the kibble and kitty litter into smaller, more easily manageable bags with the help of her young daughter, Grace; then labels and dates each bag to ready it for distribution.

As a longstanding foster parent for kittens and a volunteer for the Bangor Humane Society, Rowe has developed supportive friendships with people eager to help her achieve her mission.

And for Rowe, being able to offer this kind of help is a dream come true.

“But, I really have to thank my husband, Matt, who is very supportive, understanding and generous,” she said. “He never knows what I will ask of him when he gets home – it could be anything from bottle-feeding orphan kitties, to carrying the heavy bags of dog and cat food into the house for me. He really is a good sport and a great role model for our daughter.”

Family. Whether human or furry – that’s what it’s all about.

To obtain more information on the Furry Friends Food Bank, or to request pet care items, call Eastern Agency on Aging at 941-2865.

Carol Higgins is director of communications at Eastern Agency on Aging. For information on EAA, call 941-2865, e-mail info@eaaa.org or log on www.eaaa.org.