More than $25,000 was raised for the needy in the Warsaw-Winona Lake area on Wednesday, November 16, as Grace College and Seminary partnered with Mission Point Community Church for the sixth-annual Supermarket Sweep at Owen’s Market in Warsaw, Ind. More than 500 students and many community members participated. Grace students raised $13,542 and the community raised $11,789 for a grand total of $25,331.
Supermarket Sweep was an opportunity for the community to give back. During the event, shoppers purchased non-perishable food and baby products. The items were packed and donated to local non-profit organizations, including The Salvation Army, Combined Community Services, Our Father’s House, and Heartline Pregnancy Center.
“I love this event because it shows that serving can be fun,” said Kearstin Criswell, director of student involvement at Grace. “More students participated than in previous years. It was great to see upperclassmen build momentum for first-year students.” During the event, the winners of challenges won gift cards, enabling them to purchase more items. “Students did crazy things for the gift cards,” said Criswell. “Shopping cart races and cupcake eating contests, to name a couple!”
Sponsors of this year’s Supermarket Sweep in addition to Grace College and Seminary and Mission Point Church, included PayProTec, Nextremity, and Wildman Business Group. “We could not have done this without them,” said Criswell.