Dealerships set new record for food bank donations

Food banks are better stocked for the holiday season thanks to the record-setting efforts of the 15th annual Octoberfest Food Bank Food Drive

McCurley Integrity Dealerships, Corwin Ford, Russ Dean RV, McCurley Integrity Toyota in Walla Walla and Yoke’s Fresh Markets gathered non-perishable food to help local families.

The donations go to area food banks, the Salvation Army, Tri-City Union Gospel Mission, St. Vincent de Paul, Golden Age Food Source, and Blue Mountain Action.

“Today we’re going to deliver nearly 73,000 pounds of food to the area food banks,” said Craig Cavanaugh, general manager of McCurley Integrity Dealerships.

A check for $56,455 was presented to food banks representatives at the West Richland Yoke’s Fresh Market on Thursday. The money is to purchase food from Yoke’s to donate to the food banks.

The money is from vehicle sales at the dealerships. A portion of each vehicle sale during the month-long Octoberfest went to the donation fund.

Customers at Yoke’s Fresh Markets purchased Octoberfest food bags to donate to food banks. Customers bought 1,875 food bags, which broke last year’s record, according to organizers.

“The customers of Yoke’s did a tremendous job once again for us this year,” Cavanaugh said.

More than half a million pounds of food was donated since the drive began in 2002. The first year’s event had a donation goal of $10,000, and this year’s goal of $45,000 was met.

“This has grown to remarkable levels,” Cavanaugh said.

The value of the Yoke’s food bag donations, along with the money raised from the dealerships, brought the total value of the donation to $72,290, almost $20,000 more than last year’s total.

“Congratulations to everyone, and thank you to Yoke’s Fresh Markets,” Cavanaugh said. “Another successful food drive. We’ll see you all here next November.”

This story was originally published November 11, 2016 at 3:29 PM with the headline "Dealerships set new record for food bank donations."