The Fort Frances Safeway is hosting its annual food bank donation and fundraising drive for the Salvation Army. According to Keifer Childerhose, store manager of Safeway, they are nearing the fundraising goal for the Salvation Army. Moreover, Childerhose is proud to participate in the fundraising efforts and is happy to see the funds raised remain local to the community.
“We have food hampers, we sell them year-round, but mostly around Christmas time,” said Childerhose.
The hampers cost $10 and are full of essential items. Should a customer buy one, they will then be asked to donate to the Salvation Army.
“Then we just take the cash donations at the check pens,” said Childerhose, “which goes towards our fundraising goal.” Adding, “All our cashiers are asking for donations from our customers when checking out.”
Moreover, any cash donations are donated in totality. In other words, there’s no skimming off the top of a donation.
“All that goes to the Salvation Army in Fort Frances,” said Childerhose. “All the money raised stays local. At the end of this, we write a check to the Salvation Army in town, and it all goes directly to them.”
The fundraising goal Childerhose and his team planned is $8,000. A goal Childerhose said is drawing near.
“Our goal is to raise $8,000,” said Childerhose. “I think we’re maybe there already. So, we’re trying to just push through.”
Childerhose also feels ” very happy” to raise money for a local charity, and is proud to work for a company that allows this tradition.
“It means a lot to me that that the cashiers all know that they’re raising money for [a] local [charity,]” said Childerhose. “It makes me very happy that we’re able to do this for the communities that we all live and work in.
“It makes me very proud to work for a company that gives us the opportunity to do something like this for the community that we live in, especially when compared to other Safeways throughout the country. We’re the only Safeway in town. So, it’s extra important and extra extra meaningful that I see exactly where the funds go, and then I see exactly the people that it helps out.”
The Fort Safeway is taking donations until December 24th.
