Local Food Bank Receives over $39,000 from Walla Walla Valley Wineries, Businesses
2018 Barrel Full of Money Steering Commitee, from left to right, Breanna Mauri , Ashley Mahan, Kylie Sheckler, Jeff Mathias, Shelby Pryor, Sierra Burchell, Trevor Dorland, Cindy Widmer, Tracy Parmer, Philippe Michel and Gordy Venneri.
WALLA WALLA, WA (Dec. 21, 2018) — The 8th Annual Barrel Full of Money fundraiser broke its own record again this holiday season, as more than 60 Walla Walla Valley wineries, area businesses and non-profit organizations teamed up to raise a monumental amount of money 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 local sponsor organizations and businesses to raise funds for the Walla Walla Food Bank. Alaska Airlines, Baker Boyer Bank, Big House Brewpub, Columbia REA, Dunham Cellars, Elkhorn Media Group, Hayden Homes, the Marcus Whitman Hotel & Conference Center, Olive Marketplace & Café, the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin and Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance members came together this year to donate time, money and resources to the cause. During a check presentation at Baker Boyer Bank in downtown Walla Walla on Thursday, December 20, the steering committee presented a check to BMAC for $39,396.02.
“Due to the support of the wine community, local businesses and generous individuals, the Barrel Full of Money campaign experienced a 14% increase from 2017,” said BMAC Food Bank Director Jeff Mathias. “The money raised in this effort will provide over 196,900 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 $166,000 in cash for the local food bank, all of which has been used to purchase bulk food items and perishables.
Components of the annual two-month long fundraising campaign included a raffle with grand prizes of two unrestricted roundtrip tickets by Alaska Airlines and a one-night stay and dining at the Marcus Whitman Hotel; donation canisters at local wineries and businesses; full-sized wine barrels — used as donation vessels — at local restaurants; an auction and wine reception at Dunham Cellars; and cash donations from local businesses and residents.
“Barrel Full of Money was designed for the community to come together to serve the one in six people of Walla Walla County who visit BMAC’s food pantries each year,” said Ashley Mahan, Chief Operating Officer of the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance. “We don’t want anyone to go hungry in our agricultural community and we look forward to the continued collaboration and success of Barrel Full of Money and BMAC for years to come.”
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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 the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance
The Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance is a non-profit 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:
Ashley Mahan
Chief Operating Officer, Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance
[email protected] | (509) 526-3117 office
