Food Donations Build Corvallis Community Connections

Six days a week at our Corvallis Market of Choice, our teammates gather up foods throughout the store to be donated to Linn Benton Food Share to be given to community members in need.

Fresh produce, dairy products, frozen foods, even bulk food for pets, are among the many selections prepared for distribution. Baked goods and high-quality, chef-prepared foods and other kitchen and deli items are included, as well.

When the dedicated volunteers from Linn Benton Food Share, and other area agencies that participate in Oregon Food Bank’s Fresh Alliance program, arrive at our Market to pick up donations, we are ready.

We’ve been making donations like this since our Corvallis store opened in 2010.

‘Above and beyond’

“Market of Choice has always been part of Fresh Alliance since they entered the Corvallis market,” says Ryan McCambridge, Food Share Director at Linn Benton Food Share. “From Day One they had a program in place, for not only the food donations, but also for the scan program at checkout.”

Through our Scan-A-Coupon program, customers can add a $1, $5 or $10 donation to their purchase at checkout to be donated to the Linn Benton Food Share. According to McCambridge, those Scan-A-Coupon donations raise on average $3,000 per quarter, or about $12,000 annually.

“Market of Choice has gone above and beyond in terms of their support for the food bank here, but also statewide,” adds McCambridge, who has worked in community food services for 23 years. “They are supporting the efforts of regional food banks throughout the state.”

Grateful for the partnership

Making a difference in the lives of our hungry neighbors is important to us at Market of Choice. Our team members have built strong, personal connections with the many volunteers who deliver the foods we donate to local food pantries and distribution sites within the same day.

In Linn Benton Food Share’s fiscal year 2020, Market of Choice donated 74,872 pounds of food. In 2021, we’ve already donated more than 51,400 pounds of food.

McCambridge notes that it’s the quality of Market of Choice’s food donations and the variety of products that helps him and the food bank fulfill its mission to provide a variety of fresh, healthy food choices and to create a dignified experience for neighbors in need.

The volunteers also feel a level of respect from Market of Choice team members, McCambridge says. “And that’s a big deal, because the volunteers are there because they want to help the community. It really feels like a partnership.”

“MOC is the best place to pick up,” says a Linn Benton Food Share volunteer. “They are very friendly, very helpful; they bring carts out for us. Pleasant people. The receiving clerk knows our volunteers by name. An outstanding place to pick up.”

At Market of Choice, community giving is important to us, and we know it’s important to our customers. You support our community giving efforts every time you shop and when you choose to donate through our Scan-A-Coupon program at checkout – every dollar donated goes directly to a local food bank program in your community.