Smart & Final has launched its annual campaign to raise money for the 11th annual KFI PastaThon, an event organized by KFI AM 640 for Caterina’s Club. To date, the nonprofit has served seven million warm meals to families in need through a program that provides more than 25,000 meals per week across Southern California.
Headed by Chef Bruno Serato, the organization also provides affordable housing assistance and job training for youth to help end the cycle of poverty.
To participate in the food fundraiser, shoppers at any Smart & Final or Smart & Final Extra! store can donate in any amount at the register during checkout. Through Dec. 5, Smart & Final and Barilla will turn the donations into pasta, sauce, forks, bowls and to-go containers for Caterina’s Club. Each $10 donation provides 14 meals to kids in need.
Drive-thru donations will be accepted at Serato’s Anaheim White House restaurant from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Giving Tuesday, Nov. 30, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily on Dec. 1-3.
Caterina’s Club will be joined by KFI AM 640, Barilla Pasta and Smart & Final volunteers in accepting donations at the restaurant, located at 887 S. Anaheim Blvd. in Anaheim, California.
“There continues to be a critical need to help families facing food insecurity in California, which is severe and widespread due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Smart & Final Charitable Foundation is proud to partner with Caterina’s Club and KFI AM 640 again this year to support PastaThon,” said Tinamarie Squieri, manager of the Smart & Final Charitable Foundation. “Caterina’s Club has done a phenomenal job of meeting the moment with increased services to include feeding not only children, but their families as well, and we were so heartened last year to see Smart & Final customers and associates donate in record numbers.”
In 2020, the 10th annual KFI PastaThon resulted in a 78 percent increase over 2019 in donations to Caterina’s Club from Smart & Final. Between in-store donations and additional direct donations from The Smart & Final Charitable Foundation, Smart & Final donated $165,968 to PastaThon efforts. In total, the 10th annual KFI PastaThon, supported by Smart & Final and Barilla Pasta, raised a record-breaking $770,827 and 75,980 pounds of pasta and sauce.
The Smart & Final Charitable Foundation is committed to improving the quality of life and nourishing the communities Smart & Final serves. The foundation aids nonprofit organizations with a focus on hunger relief, health and wellness, team sports and youth development, education and disaster relief. In 2020, the Charitable Foundation raised almost $2 million to support nearly 1,500 causes with the help of Smart & Final customers and associates.
Smart & Final is the smaller, faster grocery warehouse store, headquartered near Los Angeles in Commerce, California. Smart & Final’s 254 store locations offer quality products in a variety of sizes, saving customers time and money without a membership fee. Its larger format stores, Smart & Final Extra!, combine the warehouse store with traditional grocery offerings like farm-fresh produce and natural and organic options, to provide a one-stop shop for all.
