Still on the front lines renewing food resources every day for residents across Michigan’s Great Southwest, the team at Martin’s Super Markets is going above and beyond with news of a matching offer for those who donate at the stores’ checkout counters for the pandemic response efforts shepherded by the United Way.
Martin’s has announced that they will be matching customer contributions up to $25,000 made at their checkouts to local United Way branches, with the donations directed to COVID-19 Response Funds in each of the counties where Martin’s stores are located. The funds were established by United Way to respond to both short-term and long-term needs of individuals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Amy Simeri-McClellan, Senior Vice President at Martin’s Super Markets, says, “During this crisis we are so happy to be able to help each of the communities we serve by doubling the amount our customers are so generously donating.” She says cashiers can ring up any amount that customers wish to donate. Even online shoppers may donate via Martin’s “Groceries to Go” site at https://martinsgroceriestogo.com when they place an order for pickup or delivery.
Simeri-McClellan adds, ”We’ve also partnered with the South Bend Chocolate Company, one of our longtime local business partners, to help them with an inventory of Easter baskets and chocolate bunnies that may not be sold otherwise, due to the closure of some retail outlets.”
Local Martin’s stores will have the Easter baskets and bunnies on display this week and for every chocolate bunny sold, the companies will donate $1 to the local United Way relief funds. For every basket sold, $5 will go to that same fund. Mark Tarner, founder of the South Bend based candy company is thrilled to make the sought-after Easter product available to the Martin’s retail stores for sale, saying, “A win-win for the community and our customers, the South Bend Chocolate Company staff worked tirelessly to get the product ready for the season; this partnership with Martin’s gives us the opportunity to also help raise funds for those impacted locally by COVID-19.”
The United Way branches included in the effort include:
- United Way of Southwest Michigan
- United Way of Cass County
- United Way of Elkhart & LaGrange Counties
- United Way of Kosciusko County
- United Way of Marshall County
- United Way of St. Joseph County.
The South Bend Chocolate Company operates 11 company-owned stores in Northern Indiana and 4 franchise locations throughout Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. The factory is located at 3300 W. Sample Street in South Bend, Indiana and occupies 60,000 square feet. The company got its start making chocolates under a license from the University of Notre Dame. It’s first three products were the Domer, the Rockne and Nuts for ND.
