Cow Appreciation Day usually means dressing up and getting free food, but the Main Street Chick-Fil-A sees it as an opportunity to give back to the community.

Cow Appreciation Day is from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on July 10.

The Main Street Chick-Fil-A will use Cow Appreciation Day to raise money for Oaks Veterinary Clinic and collect donations for Isle of Wight County Animal Shelter.

Owner and Operator Nicki Dalton has made it a priority to be involved in community service in her own home and with her Chick-Fil-A franchise.

“Nicki has a passion for giving back and helping animals,” said Marketing Director Terri Jernigan. “She wants to ‘feed it forward’ and help the shelter.”

Dalton’s franchise has had a partnership with the Isle of Wight shelter for just about three years.

“Isle of Wight was really receptive to us, and they allow us to come in. They were so willing to let us love them,” Jernigan.

Along with the current opportunity they have, they also have kids go and read to the animals at the shelter, and they do other promotions to help raise money for them.

The shelter has a wish list of things they need, and those that wish to bring a donation need to bring something from the list. To incentivize the community, anyone that brings in an item that is valued at $5 or more will be entered for a chance to win free Chick-Fil-A for one year.

Free Chick-Fil-A for a year is defined as 52 Chick-Fil-A meal coupons.

The store will also accept monetary donations for Oaks Veterinary Clinic, and a donation of $5 or more will also enter guests in the same drawing for free Chick-Fil-A.

“What Oaks Vet is doing is matching us dollar for dollar on all the donations from Cow Appreciation Day,” Jernigan said.

People can come and donate at any time, but they will only be entered into the drawing if they participate on Cow Appreciation Day.

“This is very important to Nicki and the Chick-Fil-A team,” Jernigan said. “Nicki has a passion for helping those that can’t help themselves, and this gives the whole store and the community the chance to do that as well.”

On the day of, there will even be posters of animals that are available for adoption from the Isle of Wight shelter.

There will be plenty of opportunities to give back, but the regular festivities of Cow Appreciation Day will be happening. Those that come to the Chick-Fil-A, 1018 N. Main St., dressed in a cow costume of any sort will receive one free entrée.

To find items to bring for the Isle of Wight shelter, visit www.co.isle-of-wight.va.us/animal-services/iowac-wish-list.