Cats and dogs are often an early casualty when people lose their jobs or have to move.

The shift in the economy has brought more pets to Casper Humane Society, said Kris Bachert, associate director. Hosting about 80 dogs at one time, the Casper Humane Society goes through a lot of food -- about a case of canned dog food every other day. The center fully relies on donations and fundraisers, like the food drive sponsored by 14 Casper schools.

The "Two Tons of Love" food drive aims to collect just that -- two tons of food for people and two tons of food for animals. The drive began yesterday and continues until Nov. 23. All food must be nonperishable and pet food cannot contain red dye or be Ol' Roy brand. Donations can be dropped off through the end of November at the 13 school sites: Kelly Walsh High School; Centennial and Dean Morgan junior high schools; Frontier Middle School; Casper Classical Academy; Woods Learning Center; Verda James, Sagewood, Manor Heights, Pineview, Willard and Evansville elementary schools; Star Lane Center and Prince of Peace Preschool.

The schools started collaborating last year, forming the Eastside Learning and Activity Team Experience to promote achievement, athletics, activities and acceptance. The food drive is its first community service project.

"It doesn't have to be a competition -- we compete in many arenas," Brad Diller, principal at Kelly Walsh High School, said. " It's a matter of a group of schools celebrating what we can do together."

The food will likely go to students in those schools, Diller said. The food collected will go to the bare pantry at the Holy Cross Food Center. The center served 1,308 people in October and had to purchase many food items to keep open, said Kitty Carr at the food center.

"I can't even tell you how many people two tons would feed," Carr said. "It would stock our shelves for the winter."

Reach education reporter Jackie Borchardt at (307) 266-0593 or at jackie.borchardt@trib.com. Read her education blog at tribtown.trib.com/reportcard