In May, a group of employee volunteers along with members of Host’s service team rolled up their sleeves to make a difference in the lives of local animals by volunteering at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA). Since 1946, AWLA has been a cornerstone in our community and shelter for homeless animals, providing adoption services, temporary rehoming for families going through a transition, spay/neuter assistance, medical care  and advocacy for more than 2,000 animals each year—ranging from cats and dogs to iguanas and chinchillas.

The focus of our volunteer day was to help AWLA prepare for their upcoming Community Pet Pantry event, a vital initiative that provides free pet food, toys and supplies to local families in need. By easing the financial burden of pet ownership, the program is instrumental in keeping beloved animals in their homes and out of shelters, preventing families from having to make the heartbreaking decision to surrender a pet due to lack of resources.

After a warm welcome and tour of AWLA’s facilities, our volunteers got to work across several key areas:

• Unloading Supplies: One group unloaded bags of dog and cat food from transport vans into the warehouse, ensuring a steady supply.
• Bagging Food: Another team portioned out food into ziplock bags—prepping about 60 bags of food for distribution.
• Sorting Donations: A third group sorted and inspected donated leashes, harnesses, toys  and accessories, resulting in about 30 shopping bags full of ready-to-go pet supplies.

After a rewarding day of service, volunteers enjoyed a special behind-the-scenes tour of AWLA’s small animals room—home to kittens, rabbits, guinea pigs, and more—and spent some quality playtime with three of the shelter’s adoptable dogs.

“We sincerely appreciate the Host Hotels & Resorts volunteer team for helping us prepare for our pet food and supplies distribution event, which is a part of a bigger people food distribution event through ALIVE!” said Lindsay Ismer, Development Coordinator, Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. “Many people in our community depend on supplemental food for themselves and their pets—and the Hosts team ensured we were ready to meet our community’s needs. Thank you!"

The event was a tail-wagging success, filled with teamwork, compassion and a shared goal of supporting pets and the families who love them.

Learn more about Host’s Corporate Responsibility program, including our Corporate Citizenship program.