As an animal lover, Elizabeth Wigton wanted to help out people who were having trouble dealing with the expenses that come with owning pets. And she wanted to help their furry friends, too.

She was also looking for a worthy Gold Award project to complete as an Ambassador Scout for Plainfield Girl Scout Troop 70785 last spring. She’s been participating in the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana since she was little.

So Wigton hit on the idea of an outdoor pet food pantry. She researched which animal shelters would be open to the idea and found out both South Suburban Humane Society in Matteson and Kendall County Animal Control were interested.

They are among area shelters that have seen an increase in surrendered pets because people are struggling to afford the rising co

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