To help with the massive relief efforts in earthquake-devastated Haiti, employees and customers of The Markets raised $7,325 over a two-week period last month.

Through an innovative partnership with the Western Union Foundation (which has services in several of our stores), a one-for-one match was made, resulting in a total of $14,650.  This donation was made to the American Red Cross's Haiti Relief Fund.  Customers and team members made donations at the time of checkout, and gave generously.

The Markets thank the Western Union Foundation for the opportunity to receive a match, and maximize the donation of hundreds of customers in Washington.

Help Local MDA Kids Attend Camp This Summer

You may recall seeing the green shamrocks in The Markets and other retail stores and restaurants around this time of year.  For the ninth year, The Markets will be hosting MDA Shamrocks Against Dystrophy in each of our stores.  (MDA stands for Muscular Dystrophy Association)

Your checker will ask if you'd like to "buy" a green shamrock for $1, a gold one for $5 or a platinum one for $10.  The money raised in our stores will help send kids to a week of camp at Lake Stevens, Summer camp offers a host of activities specially designed for young people who use wheelchairs or have limited mobility.  Activities include swimming, boating, baseball, horseback riding and talent shows, all at no cost, thanks to fundraising campaigns like Shamrocks Against Dystrophy.

The money you donate also supports several local MDA programs in our communities.  These include support groups for those with muscular dystrophy and their families, research for cures at the University of Washington and Fred Hutchinson Medical Center, as well as free loaner items, such as wheelchairs, and financial support to repair necessary equipment.  There are two MDA clinics, one at Children's Hospital in Seattle and one at the University of Washington, both supported by fundraising.

In western Washington, MDA serves over 2,000 children and adults affected by the 43 different types of neuromuscular diseases.  These diseases are characterized by a progressive degeneration of voluntary muscles.  Two of the more familiar diseases include amyotrophic lateral schlerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease), and Duchenne muscular dystrophy,

Entertainer Jerry Lewis has raised millions of dollars through a Labor Day Telethon for many years, focusing on MDA.  As a voluntary health agency, MDA receives no government funds and its work is dependent on donations from the communities it serves.

So when your checker asks if you'd like to buy "Good Luck for a Buck", remember your dollar, five dollar or ten dollar gift can go a long way to help someone whose mobility is limited.  You can make a difference for families right here in our communities.  For more information, check out www.mda.org   The Shamrocks Against Dystrophy campaign runs through March 17.

The Markets wants to thank you, our loyal and generous customers, for your donations to the American Red Cross Haiti relief fund.

Over the past four weeks, you have reached deep and donated a total of $7,325!  We want to thank our amazing front end team, who asked their customers if they wanted to add a little bit to their grocery bill to help the victims of Haiti's devastating earthquake.

But the donation won't end there:  our partners, Western Union, offered to match our donations one for one through their nonprofit arm, the  Western Union Foundation (foundation.westernunion.com ).

So that means that we have collectively raised $14,650!  This is exactly why we think we have the best customers anywhere!   Thank you!

The Market at Anacortes was proud to present Skagitonians to Preserve Farmlands (www.skagitonians.org) with a check for $2,182.20 recently.

This amount reflects the many, many nickels our green-spirited customers have donated at The Market.  Every time a customer brings his or her own grocery bag, there is the option of having a nickel deducted from the grocery bill at checkout...or donating that nickel or nickels (depending on how many bags used) to Skagitonians. 

Skagitonians is a nonprofit group that protects farmers, farming and farmland in Skagit County.  We have partnered with them for several years, and our customers in Anacortes clearly see their value, leading the way with little donations that really make a difference.

We offer a "pay it forward" nickel rebate for using your own grocery bags at each of our stores.  The nickels in each store go to a different, local nonprofit environmental group.  It's the perfect win-win:  the environmental organization receives much-needed funds and we all work together to reduce the number of plastic or paper bags we use.

Special Coffee Sold at The Market at Fairhaven

When you're brewing your own coffee, consider a way to help a worthy organization. 

The Market at Fairhaven is selling Hospice House coffee at its checkstands.  The coffee, sold for $11.99 per pound, will benefit Hospice House in Whatcom County.

Hospice House, located at 2806 Douglas Avenue in south Bellingham, broke ground last fall.  The House will provide comfort for the dying and help preserve dignity at the end of life.  The first patients are expected later this year.

The coffee is available in either whole bean or ground. But don't wait:  supplies are limited!   For more information about Hospice House, go to www.WhatcomHospiceHouse.org