How Our Food Sponsorship Is Powering a Therapy Dog’s Mission to Help Kids Read
One of our core values at Grandma Lucy’s is to give back – that’s why we started Project Pet RAK, which is short for Random Acts of Kindness. Through our charitable arm, we partner with 501(c)(3) organizations that have a passion for helping service dogs, therapy dogs, and dogs in need. We are currently sponsoring three therapy dog teams, and a service dog training organization, where we provide monthly shipments of our 3 Bears dog food, which is mindfully crafted to meet the unique needs of working dogs.
For the month of April, we are proud to report that we donated 6,300 meals to therapy dogs and pets in need in our community. Bonnie, a sweet Great Pyrenees listening dog who provides love for early readers in her Colorado community, is one of our sponsored therapy dogs who we are honored to support through monthly food shipments. We had a chance to catch up with Bonnie and her mom Sierra recently—read on for more on how they spread love and literacy.
Supporting Independent Bookstores through Books with Bonnie events
Bonnie is a local celebrity with children in Woodland Park and surrounding communities. Her Books with Bonnie events provide an opportunity for early readers to sit down and relax with a book – while getting plenty of fluffy dog cuddles to help ease the anxiety around reading.
The 15th Annual Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday, April 26th provided the perfect opportunity for an event at Bonnie’s local bookshop, Books Above the Clouds. Meg and owner, Natalie are always incredibly welcoming and love hosting the reading events, which have become a favorite gathering place for families in the community. Their continued support allows them to host events and drop by with Bonnie for a good read and great company.
Paying it forward through Little Free Libraries
Bonnie and her parents are huge fans of the Little Free Library project, a “take a book, share a book” free book exchange. On their daily walks, they regularly pass by the libraries throughout Teller County, and contribute books whenever they can. Bonnie also had the chance to visit Bria Brown’s Little Free Library in Estes Park—a beloved community spot for both locals and visitors. They are planning to drop some fun gifts into the dog boxes that are located next to some of the libraries, and they’ll be sharing about it on social media, so make sure you follow @the_big_bon to stay to stay updated!
Giving back during Library Appreciation Days
Bonnie and her parents recently joined the fun at Library Appreciation Days at Rampart District Library, bringing along some special treats to share. They’ll be back soon, with Bonnie lending her paws for children’s reading sessions and staff therapy visits in the months ahead.
To show extra love for the library team, Bonnie donated snacks and Grandma Lucy's samples for the staff, along with bookmarks and children’s books for young readers. She also took time to explore the library, connect with families, and offer plenty of encouragement and tail wags to young visitors during their trip.
22 Too Many: Volunteering to make a difference for service members
Sierra, Bonnie’s owner, is a volunteer with 22 Too Many, a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness about military mental health and suicide. The organization supports families like Sierra’s, who have lost a loved one in the military to suicide or PTSD. She’s part of a women’s group heading to Yosemite in mid-July to hike over 22 miles in 3 days, carrying heroes from the 22 Too Many Hero Walk. Each step honors their legacies and supports the families left behind. This trek also offers a chance for the women to challenge themselves mentally and physically.
You can support Sierra and help service members by following them on Facebook, donating to support the hike (see below flyer), or giving the greater organization here.
Supporting Bonnie’s health with Grandma Lucy’s nutritious food
Bonnie has been making incredible strides on her fitness journey! Between February 1st and April 1st alone, she walked an impressive 137 miles—and her daily adventures continue to keep her feeling young and vibrant. Whether she’s hiking up to 11,000+ feet in Leadville, Colorado, or sprinting a quarter mile alongside her dog dad every day, Bonnie is a shining example to Woodland Park and neighboring communities of the lifelong benefits of staying active. Almost daily, people stop to ask her age, and when they hear she’s 12, they can’t believe it— “How does she look and move so well at 12!?” they ask in amazement.
As a proud ambassador for Grandma Lucy’s, Bonnie’s parents love to share her secret: it’s all thanks to a healthy combination of Grandma Lucy’s 3 Bears dog food, supplements, and regular exercise. Bonnie’s loving spirit and zest for life have only grown stronger since embracing this routine, proving that good nutrition and daily movement can make all the difference.
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Books with Bonnie Photography Courtesy of https://www.kaylajeanphotography.com/events/