Bend, OR (February 24, 2012) – Thanks to the combined efforts of a local grocery store and its shoppers, the Bethlehem Inn recently received a special delivery of 53 full bags of donated groceries. On Thursday, February 15th, owners and employees of C.E. Lovejoy’s Brookswood Market personally delivered the food as part of the annual “Help Fight Hunger” campaign, which is a nationally recognized effort by independent grocers across the United States to make substantial donations to people in need in their local communities. In November and December 2011, shoppers at the popular Southwest Bend market donated $10.00 toward pre-packed grocery bags. Lovejoy’s matched the funds (for a $20.00 total value), packaged the items and brought them to the shelter’s location in Bend earlier this month. The bags included cereal, canned vegetables, flour, fruit juice and spaghetti sauce.
“Help Fight Hunger is one of our most important campaigns of the year,” said Scott Lovejoy. ”We’re proud to pair with our customers in such a tangible way, delivering items right from our shelves to Central Oregonians in need. The Bethlehem Inn and the area’s other charitable organizations that we work with throughout the year make a huge difference to so many people. It’s about neighbors helping neighbors and it is part of our commitment to the local community.”
Total nationwide “Help Fight Hunger” donations from participating IGA retailers are still being tallied for the 2011 promotion. In 2010, over 18 tons of food was provided to local community food banks in 17 West Coast communities alone.
Bethlehem Inn, a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization, is located on North Highway 97 in Bend and is “Central Oregon’s only emergency shelter serving the homeless families, men and women of our community.” Additional information about how you can help support the shelter through donations, gifts and volunteering can be found at www.bethleheminn.org or by calling (541) 322-8768.
C.E. Lovejoy’s Brookswood Market is Bend‘s newest full-service, locally-owned and operated grocery store. The store offers high-quality fresh produce, a complete meat department, freshly-baked goods, local dairy products and specialty cheeses, a full-service gourmet deli, and a wide selection of beers and wines. The market is located at 19530 Amber Meadow Drive, Suite 140, in Bend off Brookswood Boulevard near Elk Meadow Elementary School in the Brookswood Meadow Plaza. For more information, call 541-388-1188. Visit us on the Web at www.celovejoys.com and follow us on Facebook.
