The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana today announced the 2018 Strack & Van Til Checkout Challenge raised a record-breaking $165,020 for the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana. That amount represents the combined efforts of customers across Northwest Indiana choosing to “round up” their bill when shopping at area Strack & Van Til stores, with the difference going to support the Food Bank’s hunger relief efforts in Northwest Indiana.
“We are tremendously grateful to Strack & Van Til for their commitment to hunger relief in Northwest Indiana,” said Beekman. “Every Strack & Van Til store, employee and customer played a role in ensuring a successful Checkout Challenge, and it’s because of them that thousands more hungry families in our community will have access to critical food assistance.”
Every dollar raised by the Checkout Challenge provides up to three meals to a hungry child, adult or senior in Lake and Porter County. This donation is the equivalent of nearly half a million meals that can be served to individuals and families facing hunger in our community, said Beekman.
The 2018 Checkout Challenge marks the 7th annual Strack & Van Til holiday giving campaign to benefit the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana and took place in 21 stores across Lake and Porter counties throughout November and December. The donation was announced during a luncheon celebrating campaign’s success and recognizing the stores and cashiers that generated the largest donations during the Checkout Challenge.
“The real credit belongs to our customers. This is from people contributing pennies and nickels and dimes, proving that small acts can make an incredible impact,” said Jeff Strack, CEO and President of Strack & Van Til. “We’re fortunate to be able to play a part in connecting our customers and the community to such a worthy organization.”
As the different stores and employees were recognized during the event, it wasn’t according to the amount of money they raised, but the number of meals their efforts provided. The three stores generating the highest amount during the campaign were Highland, which provided 61,550 meals to the community; Chesterton, which provided 57,105 meals; and Valparaiso North on Calumet Avenue, which provided 48,584 meals.
The Food Bank recognized Strack & Van Til as a 2019 Premier Partner, and commended Jeff and Shawn Strack for their continued leadership, support and contribution to hunger relief efforts in the Region.
“The Food Bank’s mission is to feed people today, and end hunger tomorrow by inspiring and collaborating with our community,” said Beekman. “Our partnership with Strack & Van Til and the community’s overwhelmingly generous response to this year’s Checkout Challenge exemplifies this mission, and is an inspiring reminder of this community’s dedication to helping one another.”
