In August 2023, when wildfires decimated Maui, Hawaii, helpers near and far pitched in to help the community. Among them was Jaron Lukas, the CEO of Yumwoof, an air-dried dog food company based in Austin, Texas.
A small startup in the very saturated pet market, Lukas hadn’t yet forayed into philanthropy, but the wildfires inspired him to donate $30,000 worth of dog food to pups in need.
The experience was so pivotal that he finally had his eureka moment: Yumwoof would create a digital dog food pantry to help feed dogs in times of crisis or critical financial situations.
“Much like a physical food pantry helps communities feed people in financial hardship, our digital pantry is a resource helping those in severe financial difficulty feed their dogs,” Yumwoof’s website said.
So, how does it work?
“When disasters take place, we select a local 501(c)3 to partner with as our boots on the ground who can provide faster relief to dogs in need,” Lukas explained in an email to Good Good Good.
This is exactly what Yumwoof did in response to the wildfires, partnering with the Maui Humane Society to distribute the donation to 3,000 local dogs.
“When we see a disaster has taken place and it's likely that dogs have been displaced, we will reach out to local charities in the area to see who needs assistance,” Lukas continued. “We’ll then make a donation of Yumwoof dog food based on the need and circumstances.”
In addition to disaster relief, Yumwoof also has a history of supporting people in financial need. Last year during the SAG-AFTRA strikes in Hollywood, the company offered discounted dog food vouchers to help shoulder the burden for striking workers.
Lukas also made it clear that the company welcomes any nonprofit to reach out for help at charity@yumwoof.com, regardless of disaster or crisis.
To continue offering free dog food, though, the small and scrappy company had to get, well… scrappy.
The funds allocated for these charitable endeavors come from one very specific not-for-profit purchase on Yumwoof’s website: dog poop bags.
“Once we made this huge donation of dog food [to the Maui Humane Society], it was clear to me that I wanted to keep doing this and expand our ongoing efforts. However, as a small company, we don’t have the financial resources to constantly take large losses like that,” Lukas said.
“So that’s why I was focused on developing a way to use the capitalistic system to raise money for the Yumwoof Dog Food Pantry — which resulted in our Charity Dog Poop Bags.”
The bags — aptly listed as Charity Poop Bags — are reportedly biodegradable and made with plant-based materials, so they naturally decompose without losing the necessity of being leak-proof and mess-free.
They also don’t bring in any profit to the company, with every sale being directed right back into the food pantry.
“The idea to use poop bags as a way to raise funds for the pantry came to me in a flash of inspiration while walking my dog. Poop bags are something all dog parents need, and they're not core to our food business — so we aren’t as concerned about maximizing profits,” Lukas said.
“Because of this, I realized I could create Charity Poop Bags as a way to build brand awareness (which still helps our food business) while doing good in a not-for-profit way at the same time.”
Lukas also found appeal in the ubiquitous nature of the bags; he said any store — like a gift shop or outdoor supply store — could carry these poop bags, even if they don’t normally sell pet food.
That said, if folks already have their stock of doo-doo bags, they can also donate directly to the food pantry, building Yumwoof’s bank of charitable funds.
“Nothing has made me prouder than Yumwoof feeding thousands of dogs in Maui last year,” Lukas said in a press release announcing the food pantry.
“Pet parents can now contribute to environmental sustainability while supporting our pantry, ensuring that dogs in need receive high-quality nutrition.”
To purchase Charity Poop Bags or donate directly to the food pantry, visit Yumwoof’s website.
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Header image courtesy of Yumwoof/Jaron Lukas
