Spokane?s Mid-City Concerns Meals on Wheels delivered more than 78,000 meals to home-bound seniors in 2010, but they learned those seniors were sharing those meals with their pets.

This observation inspired Mid-City Concerns more than a year ago to start collection dog and cat food donations and deliver the food to seniors on two Saturdays per month.

?Our mission is to feed the seniors and keeping them in their home, however if they?re sharing what little food they get with their pets then we need to answer that call also,? Meals on Wheels Executive Director Mollie Dalpae said.

Dalpae says for 87 percent of the seniors they serve the Meals on Wheels delivery is their only meal and their only human contact. She says since that?s the case, having a pet to keep them company when Meals on Wheels volunteers can?t be there is vital to their well-being.

It also gives their volunteers more opportunities to make deliveries.

?That gives more eyes watching our seniors in their homes,? Dalpae said. ?Most of our seniors are isolated so the only time they see someone is when they come.?

Meals on Wheels needs donations of cat and dog food, but especially cat food. Deliveries will be made twice a month on Saturdays.

Mid-City Concerns is located at 1222 West 2nd Avenue in Downtown Spokane. You can also call 456-6597.

KXLY4's Erik Loney contributed to this story.