Spotlight on Steve & Glenda

The Speros Have Found an Innovative Way to Keep Pets Cozy

For over two decades, Steve and Glenda Spero have been making a quiet yet profound impact on the comfort of shelter animals in our community. Their mission began with a creative idea to partner with local John Muir healthcare facilities, placing 55-gallon drums near emergency entrances to collect clean, used stretcher blankets from ambulance gurneys. What started as a simple effort has turned into a legendary routine of weekly pickups across both John Muir Health campuses in Walnut Creek and Concord. As Steve shares, “For 23 years, Glenda and I have been picking up [blankets] once a week… in those 23 years, we have brought over about 45,000 blankets.”

Those 45,000 blankets serve a vital purpose every single day throughout our shelter facilities. As Steve explains, “The blankets provide soft bedding for Joybound’s cats and dogs. They’re also used in the clinic to wrap up the animals after an operation.” From giving adoptable pets a cozy place to curl up while they await their forever homes to helping surgery patients stay warm during post-op recovery, these reused linens offer comfort when animals need it most.

Carrying heavy bags of blankets week after week takes effort, but doing it side-by-side has made the journey even sweeter for the couple. “One of the great benefits of Glenda and I doing this together is that it’s quality time,” Steve says, while Glenda affectionately adds, “He’s my better half.” Beyond the practical support they provide to thousands of animals each year, knowing that their weekly routine plays such a tangible role in shelter care brings them immense joy. As Steve puts it, “Knowing that we helped make this happen, it’s very gratifying.”

Watch Joybound’s video featurette on Steve & Glenda below: