The Beginning of Bruno’s Pro-Bone-O Pet Pantry

The Beginning

In 2010, Gerri Vaughn, a paralegal by trade, found Bruno, a Boxer mix, at a local shelter.
“It was love at first sight,” Gerri remembers. “Right then and there, Bruno became part of our family.”

But while visiting the shelter, Gerri couldn’t ignore how many animals were waiting for homes. She began to wonder, “What can I do to keep pets out of shelters?”

After some research, Gerri discovered that many families were surrendering their pets during financial hardship — not because they wanted to, but because they simply couldn’t afford to feed them.

Further investigation revealed how deep this issue ran:

  • Elderly pet owners often go without food themselves so their animals can eat.

  • Veterans returning home rely on therapy dogs to cope with PTSD, yet some struggle to afford pet food.

  • Low-income families were using human food like rice, ground beef, or tuna from food pantries to feed their pets.

“I started realizing there wasn’t anyone out there focused on helping these families and their pets stay together,” Gerri said. That realization became the seed of something bigger.

Bruno Takes Shape

Soon after adopting Bruno, Gerri turned her compassion into action by founding Bruno’s Pro-Bone-O Pet Pantry.

She formed a partnership with Food For Greater Elgin, gaining both a distribution site and storage space for donations. The first big breakthrough came when Petco joined as a partner, choosing to keep their donations local. “They called Bruno,” Gerri recalls, “and we’ve been partners ever since!”

A friend also introduced Gerri to Rescue Bank, a Purina-supported organization that now provides most of the food Bruno’s distributes. With help from these partners and community donors, Bruno’s became a reliable resource for hundreds of families — helping them keep their pets fed and their families whole.

“I’m very thankful and fortunate to have the support of Petco, Rescue Bank, and all the other Bruno fans,” says Gerri.

Looking Ahead

Now, Bruno’s is em-barking on its next phase of growth — the creation of Bruno’s Food Truck.

This mobile pantry will allow the organization to work with other food banks throughout the greater Chicago area and deliver food directly to those who can’t travel.

Of course, a project like this requires community support — the vehicle, maintenance, interior and exterior upgrades, and a driver all add up.