Hi everyone—we are long time friends of Nicole and AJ, and volunteers at their Animal Food Bank.

We’ve seen Nicole and AJ work through the night, empty their own pantry and bank account, and drive hundreds of kilometres on fumes just to keep pets with their families. They never ask for anything back. Today they desperately need what they’ve always offered us: support without judgment.

For years Nicole and AJ Frey volunteered, giving Western Canada 4 million pet meals and lifesaving disaster relief. A brain injury, licensing roadblocks, and cruel vandalism have plunged them into crisis. As their friend, I’m asking our community to give the helpers the helping hand they’ve earned.

They've done this despite their own struggles, and two and a half years of very hard luck. Never complaining, they kept carrying on.

In January 2023 Nicole suffered a brain injury losing her sense of taste & smell, couldn’t drive or work, and still battles symptoms. Type A x 10 - and going from someone who loved to work 16 hours a day, her being offline had taken it's toll on the families finances.

In 2023, after sinking their savings into a food truck and retail/toy shop in Medicine Hat, the City refused to issue—or formally deny—licences, blocking any appeal. Seven months of rent and upgrades vanished.

In 2024, they were forced to relocate their business. They moved everything to Drumheller, where licences came in under a week, but the cushion was gone.

In late 2022, a hidden city-side water leak wrecked their foundation and wiped tens of thousands off the home’s value. While Nicole was bedridden, renters piled on more damage and repair bills - with the stress of eviction orders and midnight moves. They can’t move back to Medicine Hat (no way to earn a living there), but they also can’t sell—the sale price wouldn’t even clear the mortgage. Renting again isn’t an option after the last nightmare. They’re stuck, paying for a house they can neither live in nor unload. Repairs are needed, but they can't afford them.

The food truck season is off to a slow start in 2025 - although we welcome the rain in Drumheller! Just as the truck was ready, and AJ was prepped for the first festival of the season, thieves stole the generator, wrecked fridges, and spoiled $10,000 of food. The truck is down while they figure out repairs, but that also means no revenue/income is coming in from it.

If that wasn't overwhelming enough, AJ was rushed to emergency with internal bleeding this past week and has been in and out of hospital emergency rooms. While he’s now recovering, they’re left with ambulance and out of pocket medical bills on top of everything else.

They’re the family who answers late night texts about pets and humans in crisis, and the need for provincial wildfire evacuation support for pets. Right now, they can’t cover groceries.

They move mountains for those in need. Can we do the same for them?

What We Can Do - Target Goal $10,000

(Two months of groceries & basics - $3,000, two-month cushion for mortgage & utilities $4,000, essential home repairs $3,000)

Nicole and AJ still have irons in the fire (a very promising opportunity provided by Nicole's long-time bff) - projects simmering, and the same stubborn grit that built the Animal Food Bank from nothing. They will find their footing again. But right now they’re wedged between emergencies and could use a bridge of support.

Our community has always cheered them on while they fed our pets, rallied during wildfires, and showed what grassroots compassion looks like. Here’s our chance to return the favour and lift them over this bump. Whether you give $5, share this page, or send them a note of support, every act says, “We’ve got your back, just like you’ve always had ours.”

Anything raised beyond this goal will jump-start the Animal Food Bank Emergency Fund so Nicole and AJ can get back to serving pets in crisis.

Thank you for helping the helpers.

With gratitude and hope,

Grateful friend & volunteers

Lisa & Maxine