ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Area residents can donate items for dogs in foster homes this holiday season while they get pictures of their own furry friends with Santa.

The Road Home Animal Project will hold its annual “Stuff the Bus” donation collection while providing free pictures with Santa from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 7 at Lowe’s at the Ohio Valley Plaza, 50421 Valley Plaza Drive, St. Clairsville.

People can donate items such as Purina One puppy food, Purina One adult dog food, pee pads, metal bowls, bones and treats and dog beds.

Board members will upload the pictures with Santa to Facebook, where people can then download them. Anyone is welcome to pose with the jolly old elf, from parents and children to their pets.

The Road Home Animal Project has hosted “Stuff the Bus” in the past, resulting in its transport bus being filled with items for foster dogs. The event has taken place at different locations, including Tractor Supply. Board member Melanie Riddle said Lowe’s has always been good to the organization in the past.

She also said providing free photos with Santa is a way to give back to the community. She noted that all animals “within reason” are welcome for photos, even turtles.

“We love seeing our adopters and our rescues,” she said. “Because so many of them come as well, and we get to see them and see the dogs thriving.”

The Road Home Animal Project is a 100% volunteer, 501c3 nonprofit that helps rehabilitate and rehome dogs to foster homes based in and around St. Clairsville.

“We’re always looking forward to our rescues coming back for pictures,” Riddle said, “and to meet new people that are eager to learn about our organization, as well as give back to the community through the pictures.”

The organization does not have a building, and because it is 100% foster based and volunteer, the supplies collected help the organization rescue more dogs, Riddle said. She noted that the organization is really just about meeting the dogs’ needs, and having the event helps with that.

All of the collected supplies will go to homes with foster dogs and puppies, and donations keep The Road Home Animal Project’s costs down so it can help more dogs, Riddle said.

The organization has wishlists on Amazon.com and Chewy.com where people can look to see what supplies they should donate. This event also gives the organization a chance to kick off the 2025 rescue season.

The Road Home Animal Project posts all of its adoptable dogs on its Facebook page. Its goal is to rehab and rehome animals in need.

“I hope more people realize what we do,” Riddle said of raising awareness with the event. “And to get our name out there and give back to the community. That’s our biggest goal with this is to just say thank you for all the support that comes from the Ohio Valley … The support from everybody is what keeps us going.”