Once a month at the Mount Si Helping Hand Food Bank in North Bend, pet-owners can pick up some peace of mind, in the form of a bag of kibble, or some cans of food. The pet food bank, open the first Wednesday of each month at the North Bend food bank, helps about 250 dogs and cats and their owners each month.

Valley Animal Partners, a group of involved pet lovers in the Upper Valley, created the food bank, collects the food and distributes it entirely with volunteer help. The pet food bank is secondary to the group’s mission, but it helps the same groups of people, low-income families, senior citizens, veterans and others who might need help, to care for their pets.

Helping pet owners to spay or neuter their companion animals is the constant goal of VAP, which hosts fundraisers throughout the year for this purpose.

To volunteer for a VAP event, send an e-mail message to info@valleyanimalpartners.com. To make a financial donation, visit the North Bend branch of Bank of America.

To give food for the pet food bank, drop off your donation at: Pet Place Market, 213 Bendigo Blvd., Suite 2; U-Dirty Dog!, 301 W. North Bend Way, Suite E; or Another Hair Place, 113 Bendigo Blvd N. in North Bend.

For information about upcoming events, visit www.valleyanimalpartners.com.