‌“Keeping people with pets and pets with people” is the theme of this year’s community service opportunity associated with the college’s 2015 Student Academic Conference.

The conference, which takes place Friday-Saturday, Oct. 23-24, at the Radisson Hotel, 205 Wolf Road, Albany, N.Y., marks the launch of the one-month drive to stock the pet pantry at Benson’s CARES.

The college’s goal is to collect 2,500 pounds of pet food and other pet items, from Oct. 19 to Nov. 13. Nutro, a natural pet food company, pledges to match the college’s donations pound for pound.

To date, Benson’s has donated more than 70,000 pounds of food to help families, rescue groups and shelters in need.

Representatives from Benson’s will be accepting donations at the student academic conference.

Donations also may be dropped off at any of the Benson’s locations and at any of the following Capital
Region college locations:

• 21 British American Blvd., Latham
• 111 West Ave., Saratoga Springs
• 113 West Ave., Saratoga Springs
• 2 Union Ave., Saratoga Springs
• 1 Union Ave., Saratoga Springs.

Ryan and Frank Benson opened the first Benson's pet shop at the since-razed Saratoga Mall in October 1992 and now is located at 3083 Route 50, Wilton, N.Y.

New locations in Clifton Park, Colonie and Queensbury followed in 1996, 1998 and 2000. Benson’s opened a store in Pittsfield, Mass., in 2013.