Every Christmas holiday, numerous food drives are held around Douglas County to help needy families.

A Douglasville woman is holding a similar drive to support shelter and rescue animals with pet food donations. It is part of the worldwide “Hungry Bowl Pet Food Drive,” sponsored by Pet Sitters International (PSI).

“We appreciate any pet food donations people can provide,” said Debra Y. Milton of Four Paws Pet Sitting Service, who heads the local drive. “Donations can be made through Dec. 22. I will collect all donations and distribute them to local pet shelters and rescue groups in our community.”

The sites collecting donated pet food include:

• Janice Thompson State Farm Insurance, 2090 Fairburn Road;

• Envirocare Cleaners, 3869 Chapel Hill Road;

• Envirocare Cleaners, 4900 Stewart Mill Road;

• and Banfield, The Pet Hospital, located inside PetSmart, 2940 Chapel Hill Road.

The international Hungry Bowl campaign originated from a drive started by Milton and her mother, Wanda L. Milton, last Christmas season.

“We prepared and distributed pet food bowls containing human treats as gifts to veterinarians’ offices, groomers and other pet care professionals,” Milton said. “We asked them, in return, to fill the pet bowl with dog and cat food and donate it to their local shelters and rescue groups.”

Patti Moran, PSI president, heard about Milton’s campaign and decided to adopt it this year on an international level. The organization has asked its members to organize pet food drives in their communities.

“PSI members have proven time and again that they have huge hearts and seek out ways to help pets in their communities,” Moran told her members in a newsletter. “The PSI staff is excited to see the huge difference members can make for shelters across the country by helping in this international effort.”