Pictured celebrating the Okie’s Thriftway Store “Bag Local Hunger” program are Cynthia Porter, left, service center manager, with Sheryl Wren, manager of the Ocean Park Food Bank and Robert Scherrer, Okie’s store manager. “The community greatly appreciates the efforts that Okie’s Thriftway puts in supporting the Ocean Park Food Bank,” said Wren.

The name is apt: “Bag Local Hunger.”

The annual event at Okie’s Thriftway Store in Ocean Park invites customers to show generosity to help the needy.

Store Manager Robert Scherrer arranged for them to spend $20 on a bag of groceries for the food bank between Oct. 30 to Nov. 29.

The bags actually contained products worth $35.46; items included tuna, spaghetti, pasta sauce, green beans, chicken noodle soup, macaroni and cheese, Raisin Bran cereal, peanut butter, rice, apple juice, Honey Grahams and raisins.

The Ocean Park location wasn’t alone; the project was replicated in Naselle.

Scherrer noted that all proceeds from the Ocean Park store go to the Ocean Park Food Bank and all proceeds from the Naselle store go to the Naselle Food Bank.

In Ocean Park, a total of 169 bags were bought. “This was almost three times the amount of bags sold last year,” Scherrer enthused.

Cash contributions were also received, totaling $1,452. This money will be matched by the Corder Foundation, totaling $2,904 for the Food Bank.

In Naselle, 23 bags were bought and cash donations totaled $170.

“I am so appreciative of our customers supporting this program each year, and also of the Okie’s team members who also contribute,” Scherrer added. “These communities are amazing!”

Scherrer and Okie’s Service Center Manager Cynthia Porter presented the proceeds to Sheryl Wren, manager of the Ocean Park Food Bank. “The community greatly appreciates the efforts that Okie’s Thriftway puts in supporting the Ocean Park Food Bank,” said Wren.

Although the Okie’s program is over, monetary donations may be sent to the Ocean Park Food Bank at PO Box 907, Ocean Park, WA 98640. The Loren H. Corder Foundation’s generous doubling period continues through Dec. 20.

The West End Food Bank serving Naselle, Grays River and Rosburg is based at P.O. Box 55, Rosburg WA 98643 and accepts donations.

Donations also can be mailed to PO Box 494 in Ilwaco (98624) for the Ilwaco Food Bank, and PO Box 243 in Chinook (98614) for the Chinook Food Bank.