Glen’s Food Center in Luverne, Minn., is one of six companies statewide to be recognized for its exceptional efforts to end hunger in its community. Glen’s Food Center participated in the October 2013 “Minnesota’s Own” campaign to end hunger.
“Minnesota’s Own” raised food and monetary donations to provide more than 7.4 million meals to Minnesota families in need. It was coordinated by the Minnesota Grocers Association (MGA) and included more than 236 MGA retail members, 14 vendor partners and community food banks and food shelves across the state.
Participating stores and vendor locations offered multiple opportunities for consumers to contribute to the campaign. Many retailers encouraged customers to donate grocery items in-store or round up their purchase totals at the register, contributing the price difference to feed local families. Others prominently displayed the names of customers who donated money on grocery list icons. All food and monetary contributions collected were distributed to a variety of local food shelves, banks and support organizations across the state.
Glen’s Food Center received the Circular Award in the “Minnesota’s Own” display contest, which offers a chance for campaign participants to expand awareness and outreach for the program though advertising while engaging consumers to end hunger. Statewide, 250 stores and vendors participated in this year’s contests.
In addition to the award, Glen’s Food Center presented a $500 donation to the food charity of their choice, Kids Against Hunger, on behalf of the “Minnesota’s Own” program.
“We are excited to be able to donate $500 to help Kids Against Hunger thanks to the ‘Minnesota’s Own’ program and Glen’s Food Center customers,” said Glen Gust, owner for Glen’s Food Center. “The real winners in this effort are the families in our community that will benefit from the contributions our customers made. I’d like to congratulate our customers on their generosity and willingness to help strengthen our community.”
Katie Baustian, committee member for Kids Against Hunger, expressed the organization’s gratitude.
“Thank you to the community support of Glen’s Food Center and the Minnesota Grocers Association in helping to provide over 40,000 meals to those in need,” she said.
Jamie Pfuhl, president of MGA, added, “It was exciting to see these partnerships develop and everyone’s hard work on the ‘Minnesota’s Own’ program make a positive difference for Minnesota families in need. I applaud Glen’s Food Center on its successes in this campaign. All of our participants did a great job raising awareness on a community level and rallying consumers behind this important cause.”
In the feature photo at top: Sherri Thompson, Glen’s Food Center; Jamie Pfuhl, Minnesota Grocers Association; and Donna Remme, Steve Barjenbruch and Glen Gust (owner), Glen’s Food Center.
