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A new partnership is growing between a local food chain and the Upper Room Mission.
Quality Greens' Vernon customers can donate their purchase points to the mission, which can then be used by the URM to purchase groceries.
It is hoped the plan will take root and provide a steady source of food for the URM.
"The staff and customers are super excited about this program," said Jeremy Silzer, Quality Greens' store manager. "We have always tried to maintain local relationships with farmers and businesses, so it makes perfect sense that we would build off that and support local charities."
Two per cent of any purchase goes towards building a customer's points program.
Customers can redeem those points for groceries, or they can now donate them to the mission.
"We set out with the goal of $1,000 in points by Christmas," said Silzer. "We are three weeks into the campaign and our customers have already donated more than half of that amount."
Silzer says when they hit the $1,000 point mark, they will just readjust the goal.
"We have amazingly generous customers. They have told us that this campaign is important to them, so we plan to keep it going for as long as our customers support it,” he said.
The donated points will be used by the mission to purchase groceries that weren't otherwise donated through the generosity of its community partners.
"These partnerships are invaluable," said Cera Brown, URM general manager. "Food scarcity is a real concern for many people in Vernon. Having to choose between food and life's other necessities, like rent, school or even medications, can create a lot of stress for families and individuals.
“The fresh produce and bread made available daily at the mission can help ease that stress. We can't do that without the support of businesses like Quality Greens."
The Kelowna and Penticton Quality Greens locations will also be launching similar programs and if any community groups wanted join they can email [email protected].
