Camera Outfitters celebrates anniversary with dog food drive

Deanna Watson, Lafayette Journal & Courier
·2 min read

LAFAYETTE, Ind. – During the month of November, the family owners of Camera Outfitters has gratitude in focus.

November marks the anniversary of the small business, located in Lafayette's Market Square, their ninth in 2022. And, as is tradition, Camera Outfitters gives back to the community by organizing a dog food drive.

An annual tradition, Camera Outfitters gives back to the community by organizing a dog food drive in November. The store in Market Square collected nearly 800 pounds of dog food for a local shelter.
An annual tradition, Camera Outfitters gives back to the community by organizing a dog food drive in November. The store in Market Square collected nearly 800 pounds of dog food for a local shelter.

This year's drive, owner Rena Aiken told the Journal & Courier, gathered nearly 800 pounds of dog food designated for Natalie’s Second Chance Dog Shelter. Aiken expects more food to arrive after the official drive ended.

More:Lafayette's Camera Outfitters captures spirit of Small Business Saturday

Ross and Rena Aiken love to give back to the community where they live and work, and the dog food drive, in its fifth year, has collected 5,256 pounds in total.

"So, yes I am pretty happy about our little community food drive," Rena Aiken said. "We are a small shop with big services and a big heart. I continue to try to get that message out there."

Even in the wake of a pandemic, Rena Aiken said the store and her Market Square retail neighbors, embracing Small Business Saturday, continue to survive. Camera Outfitters is "thriving," she said, and could use some new employees.

Small Business Saturday is a nationwide campaign, originally created by American Express, to encourage customers to shop local bricks-and-mortar business the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Photography can be an important part of someone's Christmas, as she recalls helping one customer create that perfect gift.

"Our shop is all about making memories and preserving memories," she said, "with digital images, video transfer, scanning old photos, scanning negs, scanning photo albums and so much more.

"Just yesterday I scanned two very old images, fit them into an antique locket. The images were less than 1 inch across, and the customer told me, 'This is the best Christmas gift I have ever received.'  We love these kind of responses. It is the heart and soul of our shop."

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Camera Outfitters celebrates anniversary with dog food drive