Smart & Final Launches In-Store Donation Program to Collect Food and Raise Money for the 9th Annual KFI AM640 and Caterina's Club PastaThon
Smart & Final, the smaller, faster grocery warehouse store for household and business customers, today launched its annual in-store donation program aimed to raise money and collect pasta-related items for the 9th annual PastaThon, a fundraising event organized by KFI AM640 for Caterina's Club. A 501(c)(3) non-profit, Caterina's Club provides warm meals, affordable housing assistance and hospitality job training for homeless youth and low-income families throughout Southern California.
To participate in the food fundraiser, shoppers at any Smart & Final or Smart & Final Extra! store can make a donation at the register during checkout. Now until December 6, for every $10 donated, Smart & Final and Barilla will in turn provide pasta, pasta sauce, forks, bowls and napkins to Caterina's Club. Each $10 donation will provide 24 meals to kids in need.
In California, an estimated one in five children go to bed hungry each night. Having served over 3 million meals to date, Caterina's Club founder and the owner of the Anaheim White House restaurant, Chef Bruno Serato stated, "It's time to stop talking about it; it's time to do something about it."
Customers donating $10 will receive a code on their receipt to enter for a chance to win a 13-day, exclusive trip for two to Italy, courtesy of Trafalgar, the world's leading guided vacation company. Visit smartandfinal.com/pastathon for full details and official rules.
Smart & Final and the Smart & Final Charitable Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the company, also will donate pallets of food and provide volunteer staff at the PastaThon fundraising event hosted by KFI AM640, happening on December 6 at Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove, Calif. In 2018, the total raised from Smart & Final and its customers was $62,000, which was turned into 72,000 pounds of pasta and sauce, plus $17,000 in cash donations.
"Caterina's Club and Chef Bruno Serato inspire the Smart & Final family to give our time, money and hearts to such a worthy cause every year," said Deb Bell-Versluis, Director, Corporate Communications & Charitable Foundation, Smart & Final. "In the spirit of ?food is love,' we're honored to have the opportunity to turn monetary donations into the ingredients Caterina's Club uses to feed 25,000 kids a week in 30 cities."
Throughout the year, the Smart & Final Charitable Foundation is committed to improving the quality of life and nourishing the communities Smart & Final stores serve. The Foundation aids nonprofit organizations that impact issues including hunger relief, health & wellness, education, youth development & sports, and disaster relief. Last year, the Charitable Foundation hit a fundraising milestone, raising $2 million for more than 2,300 causes with the help of Smart & Final customers and store associates.
About Smart & Final
Smart & Final is the smaller, faster grocery warehouse store, headquartered near Los Angeles in Commerce, California. Smart & Final's 255 store locations offer quality products in a variety of sizes, saving customers time and money without a membership fee. Its larger format stores, Smart & Final Extra!, combine the warehouse store with traditional grocery offerings like farm-fresh produce and natural and organic options, to provide a one-stop shop for all. In business since 1871, Smart & Final remains committed to giving back to its communities through employee volunteer opportunities and donations to local nonprofits.
About the Smart & Final Charitable Foundation
Established in 2002, the Smart & Final Charitable Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization which strives to give back, improve the quality of life and nourish communities we serve throughout California, Arizona and Nevada. Throughout the years, the foundation has donated millions of dollars to non-profits and organizations focused on health and wellness, education, hunger relief, team sports and youth development, and disaster relief. The Smart & Final Charitable Foundation raises funds through its corporate sponsor Smart & Final Stores, as well as through vendor donations, associates and in-store fundraising.
News published on and distributed by:
