Want to do good in our communities?  Visit our stores in Whatcom and Skagit Counties now through July 15 and submit your best ideas on how to improve your community.

The Pepsi Refresh Project, sponsored by Pepsi distributor Walton Beverage, has partnered with the Whatcom Community Foundation to give away $26,000 to local nonprofit organizations in our communities. 

Grant ideas on how to improve local nonprofit programs that involve education, heatlh, the arts and culture, food and shelter, the planet and neighborhoods can be submitted at any Market, Cost Cutter or Food Pavilion store.

Grant requests must be printed out on the Walton Beverage website form (www.waltonbeverage.com) and returned to any Market store before July 15.  There are boxes at each location to submit grant applications.  Four winning entries will receive grant money for a qualified charity in Whatcom or Skagit counties:  $10,000 for first prize, $6,000 for second, $4,000 for third and $2,000 for fourth.

From August 1 through September 6, customers are invited to vote for their favorite grant application.  All applications that quality will be listed at the Walton Beverage website for easy voting.  Winners will be announced on September 13, determined by votes on the website.

In addition, there are forms at each store at the Pepsi display for cusotmes to submit an entry for a $250 doantion to be made to the charity of their choice.  Each Friday through September 6, two nonprofit groups are randomly drawn by Cascade Radio Group from all the boxes to win the $250 donations:  one from each county each week.  A total of eight $250 donations will be made during this promotion.

Visit www.whatcomcf.org  for more information.  Thanks to our generous partners, Walton Beverage. Cascade Radio Group (for promoting this great giveaway) and the Whatcom Community Foundation.

A very big thanks to all of you who came out to The Market at Fairhaven last Saturday, May 29.  Our fundraiser to help little Olivia Cook, a six-year-old battling kidney disease, raised $10,374!

The Market at Fairhaven donated all proceeds from our new Real American BBQ on Saturday to Olivia Cook's foundation, which will help with kidney transplant-related expenses.  Our generous customers not only bought $6,674 worth of MarketQ food --- Carolina pulled pork, Texas brisket and more --- but reached deep and donated an additional $3,700!  Olivia's kidney donor, Danica Kilander, was on hand to thank the hundreds who stood in long lines in cold, wet weather to buy the best BBQ in town and help a friendly, lively little girl.  Thanks to all the store team at The Market, the many volunteers and everyone who donated or helped us spread the word.  You made a big difference!

To read more about Olivia's story and fundraising opportunities, visit COTAfor OliviaRC.com 

MarketQ will be open all summer long, Fridays through Sundays, at The Market at Fairhaven, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Prosser Food Depot stepped up to the challenge of this year's American Cancer Society Relay for Life.

The store donated a gift card to the Relay, which took place this month.  Team members held a hot dog sale, along with other fundraising activities.  A total of $450 was raised for the Cancer Society's premier event, which celebrates cancer survivors, those fighting cancer, and those who have died from the disease.

Like many of our stores, Prosser has been supporting this cause for several years, and we're proud to contribute once more.

On Saturday, May 29 at The Market at Fairhaven, a very special event will take place.

The store, introducing its new 18-foot pit barbecue, aka The Texas Beast", will be donating 100% of its sales that day to Olivia Cook.

Olivia is the six-year-old child in Whatcom County who will receive a new kidney, and needs help with transplant-related expenses. 

How can you help?  Eat our Real American BBQ at The Market, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 29, only at Fairhaven.  You can savor the smokey flavor of Carolina Pulled Pork, Texas Brisket, KC Spareribs, all the traditional sides and even sweet tea.

Olivia's supporters will be there, with t-shirts, a song written especially for Olivia to download and information about her partnership with the Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA), a national nonprofit that helps juvenile patients who require lifesaving transplants. 

Check out the website:  www.COTAforOliviaRC.com to learn more: come to The Market at Fairhaven, enjoy a tasty lunch or dinner, and know you are helping someone who really needs a hand.

We are proud to donate all proceeds from Saturday's sales to Olivia.  Our MarketQ barbecue offerings will be going on all summer, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, only in our Fairhaven store.

The Markets in Whatcom County joined the YWCA's Stand Against Racism ton Friday, April 30.

The Stand is a program by YWCAs nationwide to eliminate racism by raising awareness through this event.  As a participant, The Markets have signed on along with thousands of other businesses and organizations, each sharing a vision of a nation free of racism and discrimination.

Although our stand is not open to public participation, we are joining other citizens in this important effort.  For more information on the program, and many suggestions for how you and your family can raise awareness (as simple as reading books about other ethnic groups or speaking up when someone makes a racist remark), go to www.StandAgainstRacism.org