Wilco Farm Stores and Les Schwab Tire Centers will be food and funds collection sites for individuals who want to help fight hunger in Marion and Polk counties this summer.
“We are thrilled to have these hunger-fighting partners pitching in during summer when donations of food and funds tend to decline,” said Phil McCorkle, Marion-Polk Food Share vice president of development.
“Contrary to some misconceptions, hunger doesn’t lessen during summer. It is a year-round condition that we and our hunger-relief partners are committed to addressing.”
Community members are invited to contribute to the average 150,000 pounds of food a week that is distributed to 97 partner agencies throughout the MPFS two-county service area by participating in local drives.
Les Schwab Tire Centers “Retire Hunger” drive runs July 17-30. A donation of three cans of food enters the giver into a drawing for a $500 gift certificate which may be redeemed for tire center merchandise in Salem, Silverton, Woodburn, Dallas and Independence. The store drawings will take place on July 30 in conjunction with special events planned at each Les Schwab location. Go to http://www.lesschwab.com/locator.asp for store locations.
Wilco Farm Stores event runs Aug. 1-31. Food and funds will be collected at all Wilco retail locations including 734 McClaine St., Silverton, and 1385 N First Ave., Stayton.
Marion-Polk Food Share, the regional food bank serving Marion and Polk counties, is a nonprofit charity that supplies the bulk of the emergency food supply for a network of 97 local member partner charities. Last year, MPFS distributed 6.9 million pounds of food to its partners. This year, MPFS is on track to distribute 7.6 million pounds of food to food pantries and meal sites in its two-county service area.
