Small and Mighty, SPCA of Texas’ Two-woman Community Impact Team Won’t Accept No

SPCA of Texas dynamic Community Impact duo Manager, Tonja Thurman and Coordinator, April Williams, are passionate about the work they do every day. These two women have others’ interests at heart as they help families—no matter how large or small—keep their beloved pets at home.

April and Tonja have been working together for more than two years. In addition to securing food, toy, puppy pad, collar and leash donations, the pair organize pet food pantries, both weekly and monthly. Community Impact has some funds available to assist financially, when possible, to help families secure housing that allows pets and to help families provide needed medical care to their pets.

So far in 2026, the Community Impact team has distributed 7400 more pounds of pet food than was distributed in the first two months of 2025. The team distributes food weekly during a Tuesday afternoon pet food pantry at the SPCA of Texas Russell H. Perry Pet Resource Center. The team also distributes food and pet supplies to the public during a monthly drive-through pet food pantry held each third Sunday.

When Tonja brought April on board, the two practically rebuilt the Community Impact program. “I knew April’s strong suits included communication, relationship building, people skills, and deep community connections, so that’s how I drew the lines of our  responsibilities,” Tonja says. “We both took our strong suits and really grew with them.”

Both women bring powerful empathy skills to their work. “I can be on the phone for an hour sometimes,” smiles April. “I listen to people who need our help. For me, it is listening and talking which leads to understanding and problem solving.”

Although Tonja is a highly skilled organizer and communicator, her compassion and empathy are on view each time she visits an unhoused persons encampment. Not only does she provide food and supplies for beloved pets, but Tonja also distributes food and supplies for the people who reside in the encampments.

Donors who contribute pet food and supplies to the Community Impact team feel that empathy as well as Tonja’s passion when she reaches out to them. As one shelter partner said at a recent community pantry, “No one can say no to Tonja!”

April and Tonja proudly realize that their success comes as they stand on the shoulders of their ancestors who came before them. As professional Black women, they appreciate and reflect on the sacrifices that were made by early African Americans every day.

Both Tonja and April agree that “The path they laid for us is the path that we must continue to live on and continue the good work they did.”

The Community Impact team begins almost every day with a brief meeting to learn the plan for the day. Of course, that plan can change without warning.

“I start my day reading and answering emails and voicemail,” April notes. “Although many of the messages I receive are ordinary and can be taken care of easily, there are times when I have to do quite a bit of research and follow-up to ensure someone gets what they need.”

She keeps a running list of various social services and financial resources that are available in North Texas to share with those in need.

Oftentimes when April receives a request for financial support for housing assistance or medical care for their pet. “We have some money that we can provide, but it usually isn’t enough, so I scour the internet and reach out to other organizations to try to find the additional funds.”

Tonja’s day typically starts with text messages and emails from our partners who either need items or have donations that need to be picked up. “That happens every single day—I get messages all day long and it’s a different person or organization each day,” she says.

Even though days can run into nights and their best laid plans might change every day, the Community Impact team wouldn’t have it any other way.

Something else they agree on is the success of the Tuesday pet food pantries. “I am very proud of our weekly pet food pantry,” Tonja smiles. “We have really grown that program and all the food that goes out on Tuesdays is donated. We also implemented a ‘freebie’ program so we can give out toys, leashes, beds—things we know people would like to have but can’t afford.”

Food pantry participants can shop for items they want specifically for their pets when they come for free food. “It gives people the opportunity to pick out quality items for their own pets rather than being given something they didn’t get to choose,” April smiles. ‘They can pick colors, sizes—whatever is best for their pets.” (L-R) SPCA of Texas Community Impact Coordinator April Williams and Community Impact Manager Tonja Thurman provide free pet food and more at weekly Pet Food Pantries, held each Tuesday. courtesy SPCA of Texas

The Tuesday pet food pantry, which started almost three years ago, helped 60 people with free pet food, and no free supplies. “It was held in the Adoption lobby, which was a little crazy; we had people there to meet shelter pets, and it was pretty confusing and crowded,” Tonja says.

“It took some time, but once I got the pantry moved to the Russell H. Perry Pet Resource Center, things ran more smoothly, and we could help more people—our numbers have grown,” Tonja notes. “Now we are seeing at least 125 people each week.”

April reflects on just how much the two-woman Community Impact team does. “We feed thousands of animals every month,” she smiles. And they do it on a small budget. “I’m really proud that all of the food donations we get are because of the work we do—reaching out to form new relationships and sustaining those relationships takes time.”

“We are grateful for all the donations we get,” Tonja says. “Sometimes I have to turn on a dime to get them for our people in need. There are times when a donor calls and has a large amount of food for us, but it has to be picked up that day.

“That means I have to stop what I’m doing and figure out how I will get to their facility, get the food loaded, get it back to the SPCA of Texas and then get it all  unloaded.”

‘That’s part of the creativity and decision-making tasks we face on a daily basis,” April says. “It makes every day exciting—no two days are ever alike!”

In everything they do, the dynamic Community Impact duo collaborates with other caregivers and organizations to help as many pets and people as they can. “I never say no, because no will just shut people down,” Tonja explains. “April and I both work closely with those who need help and with those who can provide that help.

“We don’t say no because there always must be hope. And we are proud to be the small but mighty team who finds some way to help the best way we can.”