Grace College and Mission Point Community Church are partnering for their sixth annual Supermarket Sweep, to take place on Wednesday, November 16, at Owen’s Market, 2211 E. Center St., Warsaw. The community is invited to participate in the all-day event to provide food and other daily essentials to those in need.
During Supermarket Sweep, shoppers are provided a list of needed items upon arrival. Participants simply purchase those non-perishable food and baby products and leave them at the store for donation to area non-profits. These organizations include The Salvation Army, Combined Community Services, Our Father’s House and Heartline Pregnancy Center.
One beneficiary, The Salvation Army, relies on the gifts made through Supermarket Sweep each year. “The Supermarket Sweep ensures that we have food in our pantry for the holidays to reach out to people who are on fixed incomes, underemployed, unemployed, and are facing crisis,” said Ken Locke, community ministries coordinator at The Salvation Army. “We appreciate this effort as we reach out to others in the name of Jesus!”
Kearstin Criswell, director of student involvement at Grace College, encourages families to consider participating together. “Grace students and staff look forward to this event all year,” she said. “One of our favorite parts about the event is the collaboration with our community. It’s especially gratifying to see families participate together.” Criswell added, “Supermarket Sweep is a great way to teach children about the joy and importance of giving.”
A special Supermarket Sweep game show-style competition will be held from 9-11 p.m. for Grace students. The students will compete in small groups to win a variety of prizes donated by local businesses. Last year, nearly 450 students participated. The friendly competition is designed to encourage students’ involvement and culminates the day-long fundraiser.
In 2015, Supermarket Sweep raised a record $26,124 in food and other products. About half of those donations came from Grace students and half from the community. “The team effort between students and the community raised significant help for those in need,” said Criswell. “This year, we hope to reach $30,000 in donations. With the help of the community, we are optimistic that we’ll succeed!”
For more information about Supermarket Sweep, contact Kearstin Criswell at criswekn@grace.edu or (574) 372-5100 ext. 6470. — from grace.edu