WICHITA FALLS, Texas (KAUZ) - Stephanie Mescher has spent many years volunteering with various shelters and rescues in Wichita Falls. Now, she’s organizing a drive to collect supplies to help cats around town.

Mescher said she is organizing this supply drive for kittens because she feels like there are always things that can be done to help these animals.

“Every year, I feel like the numbers are getting worse and worse. There are so many pets that aren’t spayed or neutered and I hate feeling helpless. So I was like, ‘Well this is something I can do to help.’ The more supplies that are raised, the more lives that can be saved, and then the rescues are better equipped to actually take on those animals and hopefully save more and get more adopted,” Mescher said.

With Mescher volunteering for years, she understands the strain that the shelters and rescues feel during the spring and summer months when cats are most active breeding. She said the most needed supplies include food and bedding.

“[We need] wet kitten food, along with that kitten formula, syringes and bottles to bottle feed them especially those that come in without a mom. [Also], heating pads are really important because it’s difficult for a young kitten to regulate its own body temperature. [As well as] cat beds and blankets. Some of the rescues even requested baby food, specifically chicken or turkey flavor, to help kittens that are weaning and need more nutrition. [We also need] cat toys because they’re learning how to socialize and play, and it’s just fun for them as well,” Mescher said.

The supplies will be split between Fanny’s Friends, Emily’s Legacy Rescue and the City of Wichita Falls Animal Services. Mescher said none of this would be possible without the support she has received throughout the community.

“So many people have just been awesome, like I’ve already been getting drop-offs, people bring them directly to me. Businesses are telling me that they are getting a lot more donations, and honestly, no one could do it [without] the community; the rescues can’t do it without the community support, and so I think the community supporting me through this drive has been awesome. I think their support for the local rescues, whether they’re helping share their adoptable animals or fostering for them because we also need more fosters, it’s just a great place to be,” Mescher said.

Anyone interested in donating supplies can be drop them off at these six businesses: Orthopedic & Sports Therapy Center, Back To Basix Massage, Mode Hair Utopia, Taft Counseling Center, Next Level Golf, Ducky’s Doggie Delights at the Farmers Market.

The deadline to donate supplies to these locations is June 1.