A Hickory dental hygienist donates more than 8,000 pounds of pet food each year to local meal distribution organizations for seniors with diminished mobility and pets to take care of.

Melanie Wilder recently created the nonprofit Sydney’s Friends to help broaden her impact.

Wilder got the name from her dog, Sydney, who died in 2023. Sydney was a shelter dog Wilder adopted in Tennessee.

“It got started because I’ve been doing a lot of animal welfare stuff in the community for years now,” Wilder said. “Most importantly, delivering pet food to Meals on Wheels for the last few years in Catawba County and Alexander County and disaster relief projects. As time went on and I was doing more things, it just felt like I needed to be official. People want a name and something legitimate, not jus

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