I see the question “can i buy cat food with link card” turning up in Google searches. The answer right now is, no, unfortunately, you can’t.
However, in addition to food pantries, there are pet food pantries to serve those who are unable to afford pet food to feed their pets. The rationale behind having pet food pantries is to help people keep their pets rather than risk them giving up their animals.
If you have any extra pet food or pet supplies, please consider donating them to animal shelter. Like any nonprofit, they’re always in need of donations. Look around your home, do you have any toys your cat or dog is no longer interested in? Is there food they don’t like to eat? Can you afford to buy food or cat litter to donate? While I strongly support Craigslist and Freecycle, please consider donating your supplies to a shelter instead. It might also save you some time, since you won’t have to worry about people flaking out on you. 🙂
Pet food can also be donated at many Petco locations.
Chicago
In Chicago, several animal shelters, pantries, and pet-related businesses have their own pet food banks.
Animal Welfare League
6224 S. Wabash Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637
773-667-0088
Last Thursday of each month
AniMeals
Serves Rogers Park and Uptown.
Care for Real
5341 N. Sheridan Rd.
Chicago, IL 60640
http://careforreal.org/pet.shtml
Contact: (773) 769-6182
office@careforreal.org
Details: If you live in the area, you can visit the pet food pantry the 1st Thursday of each month from 3pm to 5pm. Care for Reals asks people not to arrive before 2:45pm and to bring proof of address and need, such as a medical card if you are on Medicaid. In addition, while they generally have a large amount of dry puppy and dog food thanks to the generosity of Bark Bark Club and donors, they have a very limited supply of cat food and will likely run out of it. The dry dog food they have is in its original bags, so you might be able to get large bags of 10lbs or heavier. In addition, due to the large number of people, it might be best to allot at least an hour if you want to use the pantry.
(Care for Real also has a regular food pantry.)
Chicago Party Animals
1133 W Fulton Market, 1st Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60607
773.383.DOGS (3647)
tim@chicagopartyanimals.com
Wednesdays from 11am -2pm
Families must show proof of pet ownership and a valid ID.
PAWS
Lurie Spay/Neuter Clinic
3516 W. 26th Street
Chicago, IL 60623
773-475-9426
Done by appointment. Will provide dog and cat food and supplies once a month.
Tree House
Uptown branch:
1212 W Carmen Ave
Chicago, IL 60640-2999
(Near the Argyle stop on the Red line)
(773) 784-5488 ext. 221
Details: The pet food pantry is available on Thursdays and you are allowed to visit it once every two weeks. They will create a file for you, ask about your number of pets and if they are fixed or not. You will also have prove that you are low income, such as through pay stubs, unemployment checks, Medicaid card, etc. They generally have canned and dry dog and cat food, treats, and kitty litter. The amount of food and brands they get is based upon what is donated to them either directly or from donation bins at area pet stores like Petco. Dry food and kitty litter is generally opened up and divided put into plastic bags meant to last several weeks. There is virtually no wait time.
National
Illinois and Wisconsin
Enlightening the Darkness 
Review for PAWS Pet Food Pantry:
While their location can be difficult to get to, in 2009 it was well worth the trip for me, because they gave me an enormous amount of food, litter, and even toys and I needed a large grocery cart to transport it all. (I do not drive.) Unfortunately, it is meant as short term assistance and I was only allowed to receive food for six months, which had to be used consecutively.
Review for Tree House Pet Food Pantry:
Tree House gives what is meant as a week’s worth of food, but the supply really depends on what was donated to them. Because they are not as well known as PAWS, less food is donated to them and they have have smaller facilities, and therefore, they have less to give out. However, they truly seem to do the best that they can. There does not appear to be a limit on how long you can use their pantry, so long as you only come once a week. I have been asked a few times to show that I am still financially needy, but the process took only a few minutes. In an effort to repay them for their kindness, I volunteer for them, though this is not required.
[…] dog or cat food, not unless you buy human food and feed it to your pets. However, there are free pet food pantries. You can, however, buy baking soda with LINK and use it to freshen litter […]