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Supermarkets donate to region’s food banks

Weis Markets recently announced its stores raised more than $270,000 to support local food banks during the company’s 10th annual Fight Hunger campaign, a news release said. In addition to the local donations, Weis and its customers joined together to donate $250,000 to hurricane relief efforts in the first week of the campaign, bringing the 2017 Fight Hunger grand total to $520,000 and the 10-year campaign total to more than $2.5 million.

The Fight Hunger campaign, run annually in conjunction with Feeding America’s Hunger Action Month, raises awareness of food insecurity and provides food and donations to more than 150 local food banks and emergency food providers across seven states in Weis Markets’ 204-store service area. From Aug. 30 to Oct. 4, customers were encouraged to make small donations at Weis checkout by rounding up their orders or purchasing $1, $4 or $10 vouchers, or donating non-perishable items, the news release said.

“We are overwhelmed by the enthusiasm with which our associates promoted this year’s campaign and the amazing generosity of our customers-for our local efforts and in response to the natural disasters facing communities in the south,” said Weis Markets’ chief operating officer Kurt Schertle, according to a news release. “As a food retailer, we want to help alleviate food insecurity in our region, and we’re proud that this year’s Fight Hunger program will benefit more than 100 local hunger organizations and serve thousands of people.”

According to the news release, regional food banks participating in the program and who also helped coordinate local pick-ups include: The Second Harvest Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley and Northeast Pennsylvania; The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank of Harrisburg/Williamsport; The Maryland Food Bank; The Commission on Economic Opportunity/The Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Bank of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton; Greater Berks Food Bank of Reading; Philabundance; Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse/Broome County Council of Churches; Food Bank of the Southern Tier; Food Bank Network of Somerset County; Northwest Community Action Program NORWESCAP Food Bank of Phillipsburg, New Jersey; and Mountaineer Food Bank of West Virginia.

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