NEW — 6 a.m. June 21, 2015
Bartell Drugs’ tradition of helping to fight hunger in the Puget Sound area continues with the Bartell’s Community Food Drive, a community partnership with Food Lifeline, through June 27.
Bartell Drugs locations throughout King, Pierce and Snohomish counties are accepting nonperishable food items to replenish local food banks in the summer months when families that normally depend on free or reduced-price school meals may struggle to provide healthy meals at home.
Suggested foodstuffs to purchase for in-store donations include tuna, instant oatmeal, cereals, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, jam, cheese crackers, applesauce and canned fruit.
Last year’s food drive generated more than 5,400 pounds of food donations — the rough equivalent of 4,520 meals. Bartell Drugs’ food drives in the past five years have totaled more than 138,400 pounds of food donations.
“For many families, dealing with food hardship is an ongoing challenge, and the need becomes more acute during the summer months when children are at home and school programs are not available,” Bartell Drugs’ Chairman George D. Bartell said in a news release. “With the support of our customers, we hope to fill a very important need in the communities we serve.”