Knowlan's Adds Food for Homeless Animals to Shelves

VADNAIS HEIGHTS, Minn. -- Knowlan's Super Markets, Inc. here has launched a food shelf for homeless animals in the Twin Cities pilot program in partnership with the Minnesota Valley Humane Society to encourage customers to donate food for the animal shelter.

Shoppers at the Bloomington Festival Foods can purchase pre-packaged grocery bags of supplies for animals for $5. The supplies they buy will be donated to the Minnesota Valley Humane Society in Burnsville.
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"We're seeing this as the beginning of a great service for homeless animals," said Tom Clasen, director of operations for Festival Foods. "We've run food shelves for humans for a long time, and it seemed only natural to support our four legged friends as well."

Clasen said the program in Bloomington is a six-week pilot, and that Festival Foods hopes to engage animal shelters for similar programs near its other Twin Cities locations.

Knowlan's Super Markets, Inc. operates seven Festival Foods stores and two Knowlan's stores. Twin Cities natives and sisters Marie Aarthun, c.e.o. and Lauri Youngquist, president and c.o.o., own and operate the chain.

The Minnesota Valley Humane Society serves a large portion of the southern metro area and recently celebrated its 40,000 adoption and its 25th year anniversary.