Nestlé Purina PetCare marked its 24th annual Purina Cares Day by mobilizing more than 2,800 employees to complete service projects across 34 U.S. cities, including extensive efforts in St. Louis, Missouri, where a deadly EF-3 tornado struck on May 16.
More than 5,000 volunteer hours were logged during the May event, which focused on a wide range of local priorities, from pet adoption and youth support to environmental cleanup and services for unhoused populations. The initiative included over 1,500 associates from the company’s St. Louis headquarters and 1,300 more from 24 manufacturing facilities and nine regional offices.
“Giving back to our communities is at the heart of who we are at Purina,” said Nina Leigh Krueger, CEO and president of Nestlé Purina PetCare Company. “Purina Cares Day is a meaningful opportunity for employees to take time away from work, come together and make a difference. This year was even more important given increased community needs in the wake of the recent storms that swept through our hometown.”
Supporting people and pets in need
In St. Louis, Purina partnered with the St. Louis Area Foodbank and the APA Adoption Center to distribute food and supplies to both people and pets at Ballpark Village. The company also donated more than $50,000 to local tornado relief efforts and held a supply drive for affected residents.
Employees worked with a range of local organizations, including:
- Veteran services: Volunteers created 120 snack packs for homeless veterans entering the Veterans Community Project and assembled 130 "vets with pets" kits for those with service animals.
- Youth programs: Teams hosted a field day at Guardian Angel Settlement Association, prepared summer camp materials at LitShop, and built 50 bicycles for children served by LifeWise STL.
- Environmental cleanup: Groups cleared debris along the St. Louis riverfront, supported Forest ReLeaf of Missouri’s urban tree canopy work, and helped maintain community gardens.
- Pet adoption and enrichment: Volunteers prepared more than 1,000 new pet adoption kits, made 400 enrichment toys and 300 blankets, assembled 150 pet cots, and created custom pet ID tags.
- Unhoused care: With Peter & Paul Community Services, Purina volunteers helped refurbish a new shelter and created more than 2,000 personal care kits and 1,200 laundry kits for residents.
Ongoing community engagement
The event is part of Purina’s broader community engagement strategy, which encourages its more than 15,000 employees nationwide to support local causes.
While the event’s reach spans dozens of cities, this year’s focus was especially personal for St. Louis-based employees in the wake of the recent tornado.
“Purina Cares Day” continues to serve as a company-wide initiative that unites staff around local service, pet welfare and disaster response.
