FAIRMONT — Fareway Stores, Inc., in Fairmont was recently able to help out local food shelf Heaven’s Table with a $500 donation. According to information provided by the Minneosta Growers Association (MGA), the store was one of 16 companies statewide to be recognized for its efforts to end hunger in its communities through the annual MGA Bag Hunger Campaign.

“The success of the Bag Hunger Campaign is driven by the exceptional efforts and generosity of our members, vendor partners, community food support agencies, and most significantly, Minnesota’s grocery customers,” said Jamie Pfuhl, president of the MGA. “The excitement and dedication demonstrated by all partners, participants, and community members are inspiring. Grocers are essential to the communities they serve and are proud to play a role in this collective effort to end hunger in Minnesota. Congratulations to our Silver Plate and Campaign Champion winners for their wonderfully creative, engaging, and effective efforts.”

Manager Cory Hallberg explained how the campaign works at the local level.

“From November to December we try and raise as much money as we can for food pantries as we can through the holidays,” he said. “We sell holiday meal bags that are $20 meal bags that will get you everything you need for Thanksgiving dinner except for frozen items.

“So then customers buy those to donate and we send them to Heaven’s Table. In that process, we also do a roundup for the Bag Hunger campaign. With all of that combined we ended up being the Bag Hunger champion for 2020, so then Heaven’s Table got a $500 check from the MGA to use for whatever they needed.”

According the the MGA, the Bag Hunger Campaign brought together numerous retail members, vendor partners, and community hunger relief partners to fill plates of those in need across the state. Participating stores and vendor locations offered multiple opportunities for consumers to contribute to the campaign. Some stores encouraged customers to donate grocery items in-store or round up their purchase totals at the register, contributing the price difference to feed local families. Others prominently displayed the names of customers who donated money on shopping list icons in their stores.