Girl Scouts Establish Pet Pantry at Portage’s Woodland Park

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Girl Scout Troop 35579 in Portage has created a pet pantry using the Little Free Library concept, providing vital support for dogs and cats. This pantry is now located outside the dog park at Woodland Park.

Troop leader Karen Naumann highlighted the urgent need for this project, stating, “People have been asking for help with animals. They can’t afford food.” Serenity Nelson, from Portage, and Heidi O’Bannion, from Lake Station, took on this initiative as part of their Silver award project, which is the second-highest honor in Girl Scouts.

The pantry was stocked on Friday, September 18, 2026, marking a significant milestone. The project began back in 2024 with four girls initially involved, but faced a delay due to Naumann’s battle with cancer. Ultimately, Nelson and O’Bannion persevered to complete the task despite two members dropping out of Girl Scouts.

Permission for the pet pantry’s installation at the dog park was granted after Naumann reached out to Barb Lusco, the parks department’s maintenance director. Lusco expressed enthusiasm, saying, “When I first heard from you, I was like, oh my God, what a wonderful idea.”

O’Bannion described the process of narrowing down ideas for their project. The options included bat boxes, bee houses, and butterfly habitats. The girls thoroughly researched and planned, eventually deciding on the pet pantry. They utilized a kit sourced from Amazon, featuring plastic-coated wood designed to endure harsh weather conditions in Northwest Indiana.

With additional improvements, like a latch added by Naumann’s husband, assembly took approximately an hour. O’Bannion noted, “I’m a truck driver’s daughter,” indicating her ease with using tools.

On stocking day, the troop selected pet food, treats, tennis balls for dogs, and toys for cats. There were extra items, which Naumann assured would be put to good use since she frequents the dog park and encourages community members to donate.

The event was attended by Girl Scout leader Karen Naumann, Portage Parks Department Maintenance Director Barb Lusco, and Mayor Austin Bonta. Mayor Bonta praised the girls’ efforts, stating, “This is great. This is exactly the kind of stuff we get excited about.” He acknowledged their proactive approach in addressing community needs.

O’Bannion highlighted the uniqueness of their project, commenting, “There aren’t many pet pantries,” and emphasized that cats also deserved consideration because many households have both dogs and cats. Although there was some discussion about catering to pet snakes, including stocking live mice, Nelson humorously objected, saying, “I would actually throw up.”