The Hollister Dollar Tree store quietly launched a campaign earlier this month to fight hunger in San Benito County, and area residents stepped up to the challenge.
The store was shuttered as the result of an arson fire. It reopened in an expanded and updated space at its old 560 Tres Pinos Road location in August.
This month, sales staff at the store began asking shoppers if they would like to make a purchase for Community Food Bank as they checked out. The response was tremendous.
Store manager Karen Ramirez briefed employees before the campaign started. “They’ve got to say ‘local,’ that the contributions stay local,” she said.
The first delivery to Community Food Bank this week weighed in at 898 pounds, all of it in shelf-stable groceries.
When shoppers reach the end of the checkout counter, they encounter a variety of grocery items, and an invitation from a sales clerk to pitch in for the Food Bank. A “yes” answer adds one dollar to the receipt for each item selected, and items are immediately marked and transferred for eventual pickup by Food Bank Staff.
The campaign continues at least through Oct. 1, “but we’re hoping it goes longer than that,” Ramirez said.
Dollar Tree’s new Hollister store has grown to 13,400 square feet and includes a wide variety of discounted items. Hours are 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 9 a.m.-8 p.m. on Sunday.