Pictured are, from left, Bank Independent sales officer Mike Lowe, sales manager Lisa Bowling, sales officer David Lively, county animal control officer Chris Hayes and shelter director Claudia Ray. | Special to the Enquirer

Over 190 items and $336 have been collected and donated to the Decatur Animal Services shelter, the Morgan County Animal Shelter and the Athens Limestone Animal Shelter through Bank Independent’s second annual Shelter Share program.

During the six-week drive, Bank locations in Morgan, Lawrence and Limestone counties served as donation points for pet food and supplies designated for these local animal shelters.

“This is like Christmas for us!” said Claudia Ray, Director of the Morgan County Animal Shelter as bags of food and supplies were unloaded. “We were hurting for dog food. We can easily go through 200 pounds of food a week to feed about 45 animals, and we’re only receiving donations of about three bags a week.  Today’s delivery will last about three weeks.”

All 28 locations of Bank Independent accepted donations of pet food, kitty litter, paper towels, nursing bottles, cleaning supplies, first aid items, used blankets and towels, and various supplies, which were delivered to the shelters by Bank employees. Donations made at Lawrence County offices were donated to the Morgan County shelter this year.

In addition to the Decatur, Morgan County and Athens shelters, the Florence Lauderdale Animal Shelter and Colbert County Animal Control benefitted from the donations, which totaled 781 items and $820 in monetary contributions.

Bank Independent employees have also donated over 576 volunteer hours to local animal shelters since 2011 when the Bank’s Helping Hands volunteer initiative was created.