A new kind of incentive to give to Fresno’s Bulldog Pantry

FRESNO, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – A Grocery Outlet store in southeast Fresno is giving its customers a different kind of incentive to help struggling Fresno State students and their families.

For every canned food item donated at the Grocery Outlet store at Peach Avenue and Belmont Avenue, they will earn a raffle entry to win a $100 gift card to Grocery Outlet – or win a hammock. The canned food will then be sent to the Bulldog Pantry , across the street from Fresno State.

Bulldog Pantry’s Erica Bird says the pantry helps hundreds of families struggling with food insecurity. Bird says the pantry was established 17 years ago by Fresno State students who saw a need in the community. Since then, Bird says it has been run entirely by students – without financial backing from Fresno State.

“As a completely volunteer or basically grassroots, small nonprofit, we rely on our relationships with others in the community,” Bird said. “We’re at a point now where some of our funding has been cut and so we’re not able on our own provide the food that families need.”

Bird says the pantry services at least 200 families every time they open their doors and she’s thrilled to partner with Grocery Outlet to help continue the pantry’s work.

The donation initiative was made possible in part through Bird’s relationship with Big Brothers and Sisters CEO Diane Phakonekham.

Phakonekham says after collaborating with Grocery Outlet on previous fundraisers she knew the owners of the southeast Grocery Outlet, Noah Moore and his wife Sayra, were just the people to call.

“I reached out to them and said ‘please, is there any way we can do a food drive to help [the pantry] continue to do the great work they do in the community?'”

Noah says it is important for him to set an example for his children.

“The more you give the more will return to you.”

Noah says time and time again he has seen his customers come to him and tell him their needs. Each time he has helped them, Noah says they have returned the favor tenfold.

The food drive will continue until Friday, Aug. 23. The winners will be announced when the food is donated on Aug. 24.

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