Bentley’s Pet Stuff Debuts New Charitable Programs

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Bentley’s Pet Stuff’s commitment to the health and well-being of furry friends, their caregivers and communities is at the heart of the family-owned business. The company says doing good is just as important to them as doing well, and Bentley’s is proud to debut three new programs to boost charitable giving.

Encouraging its employees give time to organizations near and dear to them, Bentley’s will grant every one of its over 340 full-time employees 16 paid volunteer hours per year (eight hours to part-time employees, of which there are 71). Staff members may choose to donate this paid volunteer time to any nonprofit organization they wish. The company will track to which organization the most hours are volunteered to see where employees’ hearts lie while selecting charities for larger store-wide donation efforts. In addition, for the 10-year anniversary signature bunnies are being sold at all locations and each one sold gives Feed My Starving Children $5, with a goal to sell out which would give Feed My Starving Children $10,000 which is enough to feed an entire village. Pictured here is Bentley’s home office team that recently volunteered at Feed My Starving Children for the day.

Moving forward, all Bentley’s stores will feature a special retail section where customers may purchase products to be donated to a rotating roster of local animal shelters.

“Animals and children have a special place in my heart,” Bentley’s founder Lisa Senafe said. “We have to protect them because they don’t have their own voice.”

She and her husband, Giovanni, have adopted two children of their own and, over the years, more than a handful of pets. These new charitable efforts are just the most recent in a continuing philanthropic legacy. In just the past year alone, Bentley’s philanthropic leadership has included:

August: Donated 200,000 pounds of pet food throughout 10 states to more than 150 animal shelters.

September: Partnered with Pet Food Experts and Bad Dog Frida to deliver 42,000 pounds of pet food across hurricane Harvey-ravaged Texas.

At the Schaumburg, Illinois location, debuted new dog-wash stations, the focus of a fundraiser for pet-related hurricane-relief efforts.

October and November: For every bag of pet food purchased at any of the eight Missouri stores, Bentley’s purchased and donated an item from St. Vincent Home for Children’s holiday wish list.

For every bag of dog or cat food purchased in any of the seven Minnesota stores, Bentley’s purchased and donated an item from the Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota’s holiday wish list. The organization’s foster care program serves children from birth to age 18.

Eleven Wisconsin Bentley’s stores participated in animal welfare organizations’ wish list and “stuff a bus” drive.

Ten Illinois Bentley’s locations collected holiday wish list items and donations for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

November and December 2017: All 86 Bentley’s stores nationwide featured a giving tree—on each ornament was printed an animal shelter wish list item. Customers could choose an ornament to sponsor. Hundreds of gifts and necessities were contributed through this nationwide effort.

Ongoing: Nationwide, Bentley’s stores host local pet adoption events on a regular basis.

“We are always looking to get involved and help in each community we are in and encourage our team to seek opportunities” Senafe said.