Staff writer
Carlsons’ Grocery and Marion County Emergency Food Bank have collaborated on a program allowing Carlsons’ customers to transfer points they accumulate from purchases to the food bank.
The owners of Carlsons’ made the suggestion to Food Bank Director Janet Bryant after several customers asked if they could donate their points.
Reward card customers gain five points for every dollar spent on certain items. The points eventually add up where customers can receive specific items for free. A list of items that can be purchased from points is available every month.
John Rupp and Keith Holtsclaw were the first people to donate points to the food bank. Rupp donated 6,970 points, which is the equivalent of 23 cartons of eggs.
“We just did it because we weren’t going to use them. It’s something to give to the food bank and they can select what they need,” Rupp said.
Becky Waner, Carlsons’ pricing coordinator, said the program is an extension of Marion residents’ desire to donate items in all forms. A box behind Carlsons’ front window was filled with food items for the food bank on Thursday.
“A lot of people gather points and don’t really use them,” Waner said. “It helps people. They’re spending that money anyway.”
Bryant was excited about the intent of the program.
“I think it’s a wonderful idea,” she said. “People have certainly been willing to donate.”