Grocery customers help ‘Stuff the Truck’ with food donations

Ray’s Food Place and Shop Smart customers in Central Oregon gave big this year to help their neighbors in the annual “Stuff the Truck” campaign.

Between Halloween and Dec. 23, customers throughout Oregon and Northern California donated 7,480 bags of food worth a total value of $149,600. Customers in the Central Oregon region were an important part of that, accounting for 1,423 bags, or 19% of the total.

All of the food stays local, with bags donated to 38 food banks in the communities where customers shopped at their Ray’s and Shop Smart stores.

The effort offered customers the opportunity to purchase $25 worth of food for $20. Each store tracked how many bags customers bought. An online portal made it even simpler for customers to donate and continued C&K Market, Inc.’s tradition of responsiveness to customer requests. Donated food items were based on what food banks need.

“Our customers truly demonstrated their generosity by raising a huge amount of food for their neighbors in need,” said Karl Wissmann, president and chief executive officer of C&K Market, Inc., which operates the stores. “We are so proud to be part of this effort and pleased to know that because of Ray’s and Shop Smart customers, Oregon and Northern California food banks have nearly $150,000 in essential food supplies.”

Ray’s stores in the Central Oregon region are in these communities: Prineville, Sisters and two in La Pine.