There may be some people who think a “Grocery Grab” is when Uncle Charlie tries to take the mashed potatoes off your plate during Thanksgiving dinner.  Around here, however, the term refers to a GFWC Bridgeport Junior Woman’s Club fundraiser that includes grocery shopping at the speed of light and feeds many local children in the process.

 

Started last year in an attempt to end hunger in Harrison County, the club’s second annual Grocery Grab raised money to donate to the backpack programs in Harrison County Schools.  The statewide mission of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs is “Feed Our Future” and the Bridgeport Juniors decided to approach the mission by benefitting those who are food insecure on weekends and holidays.

 

The club has been instrumental in supporting the backpack programs and have also started food pantries in several schools.  In order to fund those programs, the group sold tickets to win a two-minute shopping spree at the Emily Drive Kroger on November 9. 

 

Crowds gathered around the top ten finalists to await the announcement of the winner Thursday morning.  Rachel Kocher was the proxy for winner Kristen Summers, who could not be at the event.  Kocher raced through the shopping spree as the crowd cheered her on and, in the end, walked away with over a thousand-dollars’ worth of food. The other nine finalists also received prizes.

 

The GFWC Bridgeport Junior Woman’s Club is dedicated to reducing food insecurity in Harrison County and continues to create innovative ways to fund the backpack program.  In addition to raising funds, they also shop for, sort and distribute food to area pantries.