Local Food Bank Receives over $85,000 from Walla Walla Valley Wineries, Businesses
2021 Barrel Full of Money fundraiser most successful to date
WALLA WALLA, WA (Dec. 16, 2021) – The 11th Annual Barrel Full of Money fundraiser raised a record amount once again this holiday season, as nearly 50 Walla Walla Valley wineries, area businesses and nonprofit organizations teamed up to raise $85,134.00 for the Blue Mountain Action Council (BMAC) Food Bank.
Barrel Full of Money is a joint effort by BMAC, the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance, and other local business sponsors to raise funds to support local food pantries. Alaska Airlines, Baker Boyer Bank, Cayuse Vineyards, Columbia REA, Dunham Cellars, Grocery Outlet, Hayden Homes, Jackson Contracting Group, The Thief Fine Wine & Beer, TMACS, the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin and Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance member wineries came together this year to donate time, money, and resources to the cause.
“Generous support from the wine community, local businesses and individuals has propelled the Barrel Full of Money campaign to a 32% growth over last year,” said BMAC Food Bank Director Jeff Mathias. “The money raised in this effort will provide over 400,000 meals for our neighbors in need.”
The BMAC Food Bank distributes over 928,000 pounds of food through pantries in Walla Walla County every year. Since its inception in 2011, the Barrel Full of Money campaign has raised more than $365,000 in cash for the local food bank, which has been used to purchase bulk food items and perishables. Currently, the BMAC Food Bank is providing 6,000 meals daily to Walla Walla and Columbia counties.
“Each year, the Barrel Full of Money fundraiser highlights the collaborative spirit of the people in our community. This community steps up with generosity year after year to provide for our neighbors in need. We look forward to the continued support of the Blue Mountain Action Council Food Bank, and success of the Barrel Full of Money fundraiser,” said Shelby Pryor, Committee Chair for Barrel Full of Money and Communications & Marketing Coordinator for Walla Walla Valley Wine.
The two-month long fundraising campaign included an online auction of both wine and non-wine items donated by local businesses; a raffle with a grand prize of two unrestricted roundtrip tickets by Alaska Airlines; wine sales with a percentage of proceeds going to the campaign and tasting fee donations at Gifford Hirlinger, L’Ecole N° 41, Pepper Bridge Winery, REININGER Winery, Rôtie Cellars, The Thief Fine Wine & Beer, Time & Direction and Yellowhawk Resort; donation of proceeds from special dinners at Caprio Cellars, TMACS and Passatempo Taverna; donation opportunities at Grocery Outlet, AR Teal’s Produce and Walla Walla Toyota; pledges from Cayuse Vineyards, Hayden Homes and Jackson Contracting Group to match up to $23,000 in donations; cash donation barrels hosted at AK’s Mercado, Public House 124, Tranche and Valdemar Estates; and cash donations from local residents and sponsor businesses.
Next year, Barrel Full of Money will celebrate its 12th annual campaign.
Barrel Full of Money is made possible by:
Alaska Airlines, Baker Boyer Bank, Banner Bank, Cayuse Vineyards, Columbia REA, Dunham Cellars, Grocery Outlet, Hayden Homes, The Thief Fine Wine & Beer, TMACS, Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, AK’s Mercado, Amavi Cellars, AR Teal’s Produce, Caprio Cellars, Earl Brown & Sons, Gifford Hirlinger, L’Ecole N 41, Passatempo Taverna, Pepper Bridge Winery, Public House 124, REININGER Winery, Rôtie Cellars, Time & Direction Wines, Tranche, Valdemar Estates, Walla Walla Toyota, and Yellowhawk Resort
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About the Blue Mountain Action Council
The Blue Mountain Action Council is a community action partnership agency providing a wide array of services to help people meet their basic essential needs. The BMAC food bank is the regional distribution center for the five local food pantries in Walla Walla County as well as the pantries in Columbia, Asotin and Garfield Counties. More information about the BMAC and its programs is available at www.bmacww.org or by calling 509-529-4980.
About Walla Walla Valley Wine
Walla Walla Valley Wine is a nonprofit wine industry membership organization whose primary mission is the marketing of the Walla Walla Valley’s American Viticultural Area (AVA). The Wine Alliance functions as the leading informational resource for consumers, media and trade interested in learning more about the Valley’s wine industry.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Shelby Pryor
Communications & Marketing Coordinator, Walla Walla Valley Wine; Barrel Full of Money Committee Chair
[email protected] | (865) 207-9225 cell
