Special to The Post-Searchlight

Curves International recently announced its 15th annual food drive, “Feed the Need,” and challenges Curves’ club members in the U.S. and Canada to meet a  goal of 100,000 donations during the two week period of March 11through March 23.

Each club, including Curves of Bainbridge, is asking its members to donate bags of non-perishable food or cash to support their local community food bank.

In addition, Curves of Bainbridge will waive the joining fee for new members who bring in a bag of non-perishable food or donate $30 to their local food bank during the two-week period.

When combined donations from all Curves clubs reaches the goal of 100,000 donations, Curves International will donate 10 percent of March profits to “Blessings in a Backpack,” a non-profit organization that ensures that impoverished elementary school children are fed on the weekends throughout the school year.

“This year’s theme, ‘Feed the Need,’ really represents both what we want to accomplish with this year’s food drive and what we do as a business,” said a Curves of Bainbridge staff member. “We want to help feed local families and school children who would otherwise go hungry on the weekends.”

Since its inception, the total contributions to local food banks from the annual Curves Food Drive exceed 75 million pounds of food, according to Curves Vice President of Marketing Mike Raymond.

“Each year, we encourage our clubs and members to donate even more than the year before,” Raymond said. “Our annual food drive is a great way for members and their communities to fill a real need by restocking the shelves in local food pantries across the U.S. and Canada during a time when they are usually low.”

For more information about Curves of Bainbridge, located at 120 N. Clay St., and the 2013 Curves food drive, contact a Curves of Bainbridge staff member at (229) 246-1348 or curves4815@gmail.com.

For more information about Curves, please visit www.curves.com.