Holiday Bell Campaign generates $64,010 for Redwood Empire Food Bank

Generosity of Oliver’s customers sets another new record to aid the Redwood Empire Food Bank.

With strong support from their community-minded customers and a generous company match, the 2023 Oliver’s Market’s Annual Holiday Bell Campaign netted a grand total of $64,010.00 for the Redwood Empire Food Bank (REFB). 

Now in its eighth year, the annual holiday campaign raised the highest amount ever to support REFB’s ongoing work to provide meals to over 100,000 individuals in the North Bay. 

Oliver’s purchases the bells in support of the program, which are then sold at all four Sonoma County Oliver’s locations from Thanksgiving week through Christmas Eve. Every dollar donated by customers goes directly to serve those in need. Additionally, Oliver’s matched the first 15,000 bells sold, resulting in the 49,010 bells sold becoming a $64,010.00 contribution to the food bank. 

“The generosity of our customers is greater than we could have imagined,” Oliver’s Market general manager Scott Gross said. “With a little encouragement from our front-end teams, our customers demonstrated their generosity and holiday spirit supporting fellow residents experiencing food insecurity. I am also grateful that Oliver’s can support Redwood Empire Food Bank through this annual campaign.”

“The outcome of this year's campaign reaffirms the remarkable spirit of our community,” said Rachelle Meshau, Marketing Manager for Redwood Empire Food Bank. “Oliver’s Market and its customers, once again, demonstrated generosity, showing that together, we can make a significant impact for our neighbors in need. We extend heartfelt thanks for this incredible partnership in our ongoing mission to End Hunger in Our Community.”  

In Sonoma County, hunger is a year-round issue, and community needs for food support continue to increase. Oliver’s Market offers customers the opportunity to donate food to REFB year-round through their familiar orange donation barrels, and customers can also support REFB every time they shop via the Oliver’s Market Community Card. To learn more about Redwood Empire Food Bank volunteer opportunities and programs, visit REFB.org.

About Redwood Empire Food Bank

The Redwood Empire Food Bank is the largest hunger-relief organization serving Northern California. Since 1987, the Redwood Empire Food Bank has provided food and nourishment to those facing hunger—serving more than 100,000 children, families, and seniors in Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino, Humboldt, and Del Norte Counties. With over 300 direct service distributions and 150 partnerships with local human service organizations, all residents facing food insecurity have regular access to weekly and monthly food distribution sites across the five counties. Visit REFB.org or call (707) 523-7900 to learn more.

About Oliver’s Market 

Established in 1988, Oliver’s Market is an employee-owned, independent grocer serving Sonoma County, California from four locations in Santa Rosa (2), Cotati and Windsor. Oliver's Markets strive to offer customers the finest selection of natural, conventional, and specialty products. This mission begins with a commitment to support the community through hundreds of local partners including farmers and producers of food, beverage, and wellness products. Oliver’s carries over 6,000 locally produced products, which account for 29.6 percent of sales annually. Oliver’s was a founding member of Sonoma County GO LOCAL in 2009 and was the first Sonoma grocer to earn their Green Business Certification from the Sonoma County Green Business Program in 2011.

Locally, Oliver’s has been named “Best Grocery Store” by North Bay Bohemian readers annually since 2000, and in 2022, Boho readers added “Best Craft Brew Selection” to their honors for Oliver’s. In 2015-2019, 2021-2022  Oliver’s won the “Best Local Produce” category in the Press Democrat’s “Best of Sonoma County” awards program. In 2017-2022 they added “Best Local Grocery Store” and “Best Butcher” to their honors and in 2017-2019, 2021, and 2022 they added “Best Deli” to their recognition. Additional “Best of” honors in 2021 and 2022 included “Best Organic Grocer” and “Best Sandwich.” Oliver’s was named one of the “Best Places to Work in the North Bay” by North Bay Business Journal in 2016-2020 and 2022 and received the “Inclusive Employer Award” from Down Syndrome Association North Bay in 2016. In 2021, Oliver’s earned the North Coast Rotary Ethics in Business Award. Oliver’s Market became an employee-Owned Company (ESOP) and a Social Purpose Corporation in 2017. Learn more at www.oliversmarket.com.