For this year's Buy Local, Give Local Week merchants associations and individual Buy Local Santa Monica businesses are partnering with five Santa Monica non-profits and charities to support them. This series covers each of the separate location based charity fundraisers.
Montana Avenue and the Westside Food Bank are partnering for the Santa Monica Peanut Butter Drive for this year's Buy Local, Give Local Week, running Sept. 12-20.
The Westside Food Bank, founded in 1981, is an independent, non-governmental, 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that provides food to social service agencies on the Westside of Los Angeles County.
"Their food donations often enables low-income people to stay in their homes, deterring the problem of homelessness, because it saves them from having to make the agonizing choice between paying for rent or food when they can't afford both. Receiving food also enables their 70 member-agencies to devote more of their own resources to other ways of helping clients achieve self-respect and economic independence," reads a press release from Buy Local Santa Monica.
For their Buy Local, Give Local fundraiser, Westside Food Bank has requested nut butter donations this year to help provide much-needed proteins for families and individuals with young children.
"Westside Food Bank is in need of more protein items, particularly nut butters. Let's help them out together! Bring in three jars of peanut butter to your favorite Montana Avenue shop or eatery and treat yourself to some savings!" the press release stated.
One of the shops involved in the event is Texture a sweater store and more, run by manager Jane Walker. Located at 716 Montana Ave., Texture will support the Westside Food Bank by offering a 15 percent discount off a customer's entire purchase, including sale items, when they bring in three jars of peanut butter or a $15 donation.
Walker said a great sense of community is what is to be gained from Buy Local, Give Local. "That's the most important fact," Walker said. "And when you buy local you give back to the community. I mean you're keeping your dollars here instead of putting them on the Internet where we don't get anything for our police or fire department, the library, our teachers. The more you purchase in your own town, you know the more money stays here. So our store for example, the owner lives here and works here. So up to 70 cents on that dollar stays in Santa Monica, and that profits everybody who is here."
Walker said she was particularly happy to be partnering with the Westside Food Bank, "who does so much for the community, not just the Santa Monica area, but all over LA." "It's wonderful," she added.
Walker said her discount is a thank you to her customers for supporting the local charity and buying locally. "It is a thank you to everybody."
Other participating Montana Avenue businesses include:
- Citron, 1615 Montana Ave.
Offering a 15 percent discount off one piece to customers who bring in three jars of peanut butter during Buy Local, Give Local Week.
- Happy Earth LLC, 12th St.
Happy Earth will donate $50 to the Westside Food Bank and give a $50 giftcard to Groundwork Coffee for each raised bed ordered with Happy Earth during the Buy Local, Give Local Week, to be installed by Happy Earth. Additionally, Happy Earth will donate an additional $50 to the Westside Food Bank, for each weekly garden maintenance program ordered with Happy Earth during Buy Local, Give Local week. For more info, email info@happyearthllc.com.
- L'Occitane - 1301 Montana Ave.
Bring in three jars of peanut butter in support of Westside Food Bank and receive a free travel size hand cream; also offering a free gift with any purchase made along with food donations.
- Marcia Bloom, 1527 Montana Ave.
Bring in three jars of peanut butter in support of Westside Food Bank and receive 10 percent off your purchase.
- Margaret O'Leary, 1605 Montana Ave.
Bring in three jars of peanut butter in support of Westside Food Bank and receive 10 percent off your purchase.
- Palmetto, 1034 Montana Ave.
Customers contributing to the Westside Food Bank food drive three jars of peanut butter will receive a 10 percent discount on the day's purchase.
- Santa Monica Seafood, 1000 Wilshire Blvd.
Customers contributing to the Westside Food Bank food drive three jars of peanut butter will receive a 10 percent discount on the day's purchase.
- SemiPrecious, 1028 Montana Ave.
Offering a 10 percent discount to customers who bring in food donations three jars of peanut butter during Buy Local, Give Local Week.
- Ten Women Gallery, 1128 Montana Ave.
Offering a 10 percent discount to customers who bring in three jars of peanut butter during Buy Local, Give Local Week, plus free gift wrapping on every purchase of gifts from local artists.
- Urban Hardwoods, 1627 Montana Ave.
Offering a discount/special to customers who bring in three jars of peanut butter during Buy Local, Give Local Week.
For more information about the Westside Food Bank, go to www.westsidefoodbankca.org.
For a list of additional participating Montana Avenue businesses and their specials for Buy Local, Give Local Week, visit http://montanaave.com/event/montana-avenue-food-drive-2014.
jennifer@www.smdp.com
