Local Grocery Store Raises Funds for Food Bank

Colville Grocery Outlet owners Kim and Jason Craig raised a total of $13,905 between July 26- 31 for the charity Independence from Hunger (IFH). According to their website, IFH is an annual campaign whose purpose is to ad- dress hunger and provide meals for communities in need. “Grocery Outlets nationwide have been participating in IFH since 2017,” said Jason Craig.

“All of the Grocery Outlets are independently owned, and we all put a lot into raising these funds.” “We choose a food bank to donate to,” said Kim Craig. “For us, it is the Colville Food Bank.” “This is because they have already done a great job dispersing money to the community,” added Jason Craig. “We were able to raise $9,705 in food donations. This consisted of 1,500 bags of food weighing in at 5,250 pounds. People were able to donate at the cash registers at checkout.” Kim Craig said, “The food bank would pick up the food donations once per week.

We sold premade bags of food. People were also able to donate cash by rounding up to the nearest dollar or giving any amount they were able to give. The food collected was dispersed to food pantries in Colville, Addy, Chewelah, Loon Lake, Valley, Cusick, Ione, Northport, Hunters, Wellpinit, Newport, Curlew, Republic, Orient, Kettle Falls, and Tum Tum. The total food and cask donations amounted to $13,905.” “We have a great com- munity,” said Jason Craig. “Colville is very giving. IFH is great because it donates to schools, education, and fighting hunger.” “Even though the IFH fundraiser happens only once a year, we donate to the food bank weekly,” Kim Craig said. “We don’t have the community involvement, but we always have jars at the cash registers to collect funds.” “Everyone has their own spin on things to donate food,” said Jason Craig. “Every year, we are able to donate approximately $10,000, and that is just in July.

This year has been one of our better years. We donate more in the bags. We have good team involvement between us and the community.” Kim and Jason Craig said they moved to Colville in 2017. Jason Craig said he is originally from Riverside, Calif., while Kim Craig is a Washingtonian. They worked together at Grocery Outlet in Emeryville before purchasing the store in Colville. They run the business together. “I’ve been doing grocery retail for over 35 years,” said Jason Craig. “I used to manage a Walmart. I chose Grocery Outlet because I wanted something different. More time with the family. And I wanted my own business.” “For me, I also used to work at Walmart, and then I was a stay-at-home mom. Grocery Outlet was easier,” said Kim Craig. The Craigs said Grocery Outlet has over 500 stores nationwide in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Pennsylvania.

“It’s not labeled as a franchise,” said Jason. “It’s a partnership.” He continued that Grocery Outlet celebrated 80 years in operation on Aug. 15, and all of the stores participated in the celebration. “We basically redid the sign package, the color theme, and some of the ads and wording. We have the autonomy to do what we want with a lot of things, but they also have a lot of say. The company provides the supplies and recommendations,” he said.

Jason Craig added, “Next year, I hope to incorporate business matches into the fundraiser and involve local businesses. I’d like to get out there more with local businesses. It’s a small town, and we all know each other.” “We have a weakness for helping the schools,” said Kim Craig. “For example, Colville Junior High School just had their back-to-school night, and Grocery Outlet donated more than 400 hot dogs, water, and fixings.” “We don’t like to toot our own horn, but it is nice to be recognized,” said Jason Craig. “This kind of recognition is good for the community.” “We will begin planning our next IFH in May,” said Kim Craig. “We will keep in contact with the food bank to stay on top of what is needed. Tiane Shoemaker at the Colville Food Bank has always been helpful in making this work.