CRYSTAL LAKE – Debra Heath of Oakwood Hills hosts food giveaways Friday mornings at Nunda Township Hall in Crystal Lake. The food distribution helps feed about 75 people a week, Heath said.

“We go through the meat to make sure it’s still edible, make sure the packages aren’t damaged or opened and determine how much food we have as opposed to how many people show up so we have enough for everybody,” said Heath, who is a member of the First United Methodist Church in Crystal Lake and runs a mobile food truck sponsored by the church.

But after everyone’s gotten their food, her efforts don’t end there.

Whenever there’s still remaining food after the event, she drives about an hour north and takes the leftovers up to an animal sanctuary in Wisconsin to help feed the animals. Heath started donating the food to Valley of the Kings Animal Sanctuary and Retreat about three years ago.

“We always had this leftover food, especially leftover bread, and I had no place to put it besides throwing it away,” Heath said. “We usually bring two to three boxes of bread. And another thing I do bring out when we have it is meat that’s been exposed to germs. Meat that can’t be given to people, but it’s okay for animals.”

Heath said she goes up there just about every Friday.

“It’s an amazing thing. It’s really fun to feed tigers chicken legs,” Heath said.

Established in 1973, the animal sanctuary is run by Jill Carnegie in Sharon, Wisconsin, with her husband, Jim.

The sanctuary houses more than 100 animals, including lions, tigers, cougars, bears, horses, cows, sheep and emu, among others.

“We take in abused, unwanted, retired and injured exotic animals,” Carnegie said. “They come from a variety of places.”

Carnegie described Heath’s efforts as a “godsend” because they help with the sanctuary’s feed bill. Carnegie said the sanctuary’s budget is $350,000 a year, with the majority of that money going toward food for the animals.

“Valley of the Kings does not get any federal or state funding,” Carnegie said. “Donations are the only way that we survive. We’re always in the red and pretty much run on prayers to keep this going for more than 40 years.”

“However, the animals get to have things they wouldn’t normally have when Heath comes up, and it makes them fat and healthy,” Carnegie said.

Valley of the Kings also accepts donations from anyone who is willing to give. Carnegie said those interested in donating can drop off donations at the sanctuary’s gate.

“We take people’s freezer-burnt meat, but do not accept pork, sheep, lamb or fish,” Carnegie said. “We can also use blankets and towels, because we are always in need of them.”

Valley of the Kings is located at W7593 Town Hall Road in Sharon, Wisconsin.