Over $72,250 to Provide Food to Fuel the Local Community
As food insecurity reaches crisis levels in Central Oregon, Newport Avenue Market and Oliver Lemon’s shoppers and employees are bridging the gap raising over $72,250 to provide food to fuel the local community. Throughout December, shoppers donated money to the Food for February fundraiser, and the 100% employee-owned markets matched the funds.
Proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit for Family Kitchen in Bend, Redmond and Sisters, as well as Sisters Kiwanis Foodbank. Newport Avenue Market and Oliver Lemon’s work closely with wholesalers to purchase thousands of pounds of food at wholesale pricing, including fresh produce and meat, from the shopping lists of Family Kitchen and Sisters Kiwanis Foodbank.
February is one of the hardest-hitting months for hungry families in Central Oregon. Money is tight after the holidays, donations dwindle, and food pantries are depleted.
Newport Avenue Market created Food for February to help fight hunger in Central Oregon. Since 2011, shoppers and the markets have raised over $559,750 for hungry families in Central Oregon, including $248,863 in matching funds from Newport Avenue Market and Oliver Lemon’s.
“I can’t tell you how much it means to be supported by the Food for February program in all of our locations,” said Donna Burklo, Executive Director of Family Kitchen. “Now shoppers are teaming up with their local markets to put quality ingredients at the center of the table for operations in Bend, Sisters, and Redmond. Really good food for our whole community – it’s beautiful!”
According to the Oregon Food Bank, prior to the pandemic, one in 11 Oregonians were food insecure, not knowing where their next meal might come from. Today, one in 5 people face hunger in rural, urban and suburban communities throughout the state — a dramatic increase driven by the rising cost of food and housing.
About Rudy’s Market Inc.
Since opening its flagship grocery store in 1976, Rudy’s Markets have been the No. 1 choice of foodies in Central Oregon. Today, Rudy’s Markets Inc. operates three locally founded, 100% employee-owned specialty grocery stores in Central Oregon: Newport Avenue Market in Bend, and Oliver Lemon’s in Sisters and Terrebonne. Rudy’s Markets offers shoppers both mainstream and hard-to-find food items, kitchenware, and unusual gifts. Its stores support local producers and offer an expansive selection of high-quality, in-demand food and beverage items, including over 600 varieties of craft beer. For more details, go to www.newportavemarket.com www.oliverlemons.com
Guided by the belief that nobody should be hungry, Family Kitchen has been providing meals to anyone in need since 1986. Family Kitchen serves three dinners and five lunches each week in Bend, one dinner weekly in Sisters, and provides five dinners weekly in Redmond. We partner with many service organizations, providing meals while they offer other critical services. Over 19,000 meals per month are prepared and served by over 450 volunteers. Our diners are treated with respect and are asked nothing but to leave with a full stomach. For more information, please visit www.familykitchen.org.
About Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank
In its three-decade history, Sisters Kiwanis has been involved in the development and support of many community organizations, including Scouts, Campfire, Little League, organized soccer, Habitat for Humanity, and Sisters Organization for Activities and Recreation to name just a few. In addition, Kiwanis volunteers maintain and staff the community food bank, which provides emergency food boxes for less fortunate citizens in the area. Food Bank Open Thursdays, 9am-2pm 328 W. Main Street, Sisters, OR 97759. For more information, please visit www.sisterskiwanis.org/food-bank/
