Four-Legged Friends Getting Help With Paws “Feed The Love” Pet Food Drive

February 22, 2012

BI-LO Teams with Greenville-Area Shoppers to Stock Shelves with Pet Food at  Harvest Hope Food Bank
 
GREENVILLE,SC – February 22, 2012 – In this recovering economy, local food banks face thedual challenge of diminished contributions and an increased number ofindividuals in need of food not only for themselves, but for their pets aswell.  Pets have proven to be beneficial to their owners in more ways thanone, providing a source of health and wellness by reducing stress, enhancingmoods and promoting active lifestyles.  Any pet owner would agree that whenit comes time to take care of their four-legged friend, pets are treated likeanother member of the family.  BI-LO wants to ensure that the community’scompanions never go hungry by teaming up with Greenville, Spartanburg andAnderson residents to present its third-annual PAWS™ “Feed the Love” pet fooddrive. 

Beginning Wednesday, Feb. 29, and continuing through Tuesday, March 27, the “Feed the Love” pet food drive will help those already receiving assistance from Harvest Hope Food Bank to care for their pets as well.
 
Since 2010, the “Feed the Love” campaign has provided over 65 tons of pet food for families in need throughout BI-LO’s operating market.  Each “Feed the Love” bag sells for $5, purchased with the MY
BI-LO BONUSCARD®, and contains a week’s worth of dry and canned packages of PAWS™ Premium, BI-LO’s own brand of high-quality, nutritional and affordably-priced cat and dog food.
 
Pre-packed “Feed the Love” bags will be available for purchase at all BI-LO locations and can be placed in specially marked donation carts at the entrance of the store, where they will be picked up by Harvest Hope and distributed to needy households in the community.
 
In addition, for every bag purchased, BI-LO customers will receive an additional 10 cents per gallon in fuelperks!® Rewards, BI-LO’s exclusive program that saves customers money on gas just for buying groceries.
 
“The month-long ‘Feed the Love’ pet food drive is a natural extension of BI-LO’s commitment to supporting all the members of our communities, including shoppers and their furry friends,” said Darren Johnson, pet products category manager for BI-LO.  “The generosity of our customers is sure to shine through again this year as we work to donate much-needed pet food across our store footprint.”
 
Other food banks in the Greenville, Spartanburg and Anderson areas also receiving donations through the “Feed the Love” pet food drive include:  North Greenville Food Crisis (Greenville), The Good Samaritan House (Greenville), Eastside Crisis Center (Greenville), Food Bank of Greater Greenwood County (Greenwood), Greater Greenwood United Ministries (Greenwood), Daily Bread Ministries (Greer), Greer Community Ministries (Greer), Greer Relief (Greer), Golden Harvest Food Bank (Liberty), Golden Corner Food Bank (Seneca), Golden Strip Emergency Relief (Simpsonville), Greater Spartanburg Ministries (Spartanburg), Second Presbyterian Soup Kitchen (Spartanburg), Helping Hands Ministries (Woodruff), Anderson Interfaith Ministries (Anderson), Good Neighbor Cupboard (Anderson), Upstate Family Resource Center (Boiling Springs), Clemson Community Care (Clemson), United Christian Ministries (Easley), Peach Center Ministries (Gaffney), United Christian Ministries of Abbeville (Abbeville), Inman Mills Baptist Church (Inman), Operation Hope (Landrum), Honea Path Food Pantry (Honea Path), First Baptist Church of Pendleton (Pendleton), Green Pond United Methodist Church (Gray Court), Operation Care (Williamston), Middle Tyger Community Center (Lyman) and United Ministries of Clinton (Clinton.)
 

About BI-LO
Headquartered in Mauldin, S.C., BI-LO operates 206 supermarkets in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee, employing approximately 16,995 people. Founded in 1961, the company provides shoppers substantial savings without sacrificing quality or freshness through its BI-LO BONUSCARD® and other exclusive programs.  A committed corporate citizen, BI-LO has donated more than $58 million through its BI-LO Charities efforts to organizations across the company’s footprint since 1983.  For more information, visit www.bi-lo.com.