In Buffalo, New York, a powerful legacy of compassion lives on through Pete’s Pet Food Pantry—a ministry born from the heart of the late Rev. Lucinda “Pete” Dempsey-Sims. What began as a simple gesture to help neighbors feed their beloved pets has become a lifeline for those facing hard times and isolation.

Now run by volunteers at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Pete’s Pet Food Pantry offers free pet food—no paperwork, no questions asked—every first Sunday of the month. The mission is simple: no one should have to choose between feeding themselves or their furry family.

“Pete understood the deep bond between people and their pets,” says her widow, the Rev. Cathy Dempsey-Sims. “She made sure no one was turned away.”

Read how one woman’s kindness continues to feed both bodies and spirits:
https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2025/05/16/western-new-york-episcopal-churchs-pet-food-pantry-honors-late-animal-loving-deacon/