Mike Patruzo, founder of Help Willie's Friends, tells me he hopes plenty of NB residents will turn out to support the fifth annual Agway Holiday Pet Food Drive. It's this Sat. Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. at North Branford Agway, where some brands of wet and dry and cat food will be marked down especially for the drive.

Non-profit Help Willies Friends gathers up donations of dog and cat food all year 'round to help bolster the supplies of Connecticut shelters and rescue groups.

"We'd like to mention that we have been receiving numerous requests from the rescue organizations and shelters for dry food -- especially dry cat food -- as there seems to be a more desperate need for their cat population," said Paturzo.