Feb 22, 2019Rainier Fruit continues ‘Pears for Pairs’ charity effort
Thanks to the support of Rainier Fruit and hungry pear shoppers, Harris Teeter, Wegmans and Lunds & Byerlys recently made a big difference in their local communities with the donation of over 20,000 pairs of socks to five charitable organizations.
The donations were the culmination of the seasonal cause marketing program Pears for Pairs that provided in-store marketing with a portion of the proceeds of all Rainier Fruit pear sales being donated to the Hanes Charity Sock Drive. Each participating retailer was able to select the local charity of their choice and direct their donations where they were needed most, according to a news release from Ranier.
During the weeks of Jan. 28 and Feb. 4, Rainier Fruit representatives joined retail representatives and local media at the following charity locations making individual donations of 2,500 to 5,000 pairs of socks per location:
- The Men’s Shelter of Charlotte, NC
- The Salvation Army of Winston-Salem, NC
- St. Stephens Human Service of Minneapolis, MN
- Victims Resource Center of Wilkes Barre, PA
- Schulykill Women in Crisis of Pottsville, PA
“As a family company, we’re committed to making a difference in the communities we serve, and always appreciate an opportunity to partner with like-minded companies, like Rainier Fruit, to make a bigger impact,” said Linda Lovejoy, Wegmans community relations manager. “The Pears for Pairs program is a great example of how communities thrive when we all work together.”
Thanks to the participation of local TV and print media, in addition to the donation of socks, local charities were also able to share more information on their programs and services. These donations came at a critical time as the polar vortex was making itself known around the country delivering below normal temperatures throughout the U.S. putting additional stress on the resources of charities that support the homeless and at-risk populations. The homeless population in the U.S. continues to grow, and at least 3.5 million individuals experience homelessness each year.