Buehler’s Fresh Foods raises record funds to support heart and brain health through the American Heart Association

WOOSTER, OH November 1, 2022 — For the fourth year in a row, Buehler’s Fresh Foods joined the fight against heart disease and stroke by supporting the American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all. From September 18th through October 15th, Buehler’s participated in the AHA’s fundraising campaign, Life Is Why™. Life Is Why inspires consumers to celebrate their reasons to live healthier, longer lives – by giving. At the register, the company asked customers to donate $1, $5 or $10, raising a record $56,498.
“The generosity of our customers and the hard work of our employees is what made this campaign year a success,” said Mike Davidson, CEO of Buehler’s and co-chair of the 2022 Wayne Heart Walk. “We would like to thank our customers for contributing to this life-saving cause. By working together, we can make a difference in the lives of the people we know who are impacted by heart disease and stroke.”
Buehler’s donation supports the 2022 Wayne Heart Walk Campaign which has raised over $203,000 thanks to Davidson, co-chair Jen Kessel of Aultman Orrville Hospital and the 2022 Wayne Heart Walk Executive Leadership Team. The dollars raised allow the American Heart Association to continue to fund research that can improve the health outcomes of heart and stroke patients, train more than 2.5 million high school students in CPR annually and support the work of local entrepreneurs and organizations working to improve health outcomes in under-resourced communities.
More than 1,700 Wayne County residents died heart disease between 2014-2019. Currently, more than 30% of Wayne County residents have been diagnosed with high cholesterol, another 19% have high blood pressure, 36% are obese and 22% use tobacco – all health risk factors for heart disease.
“These numbers are staggering,” said Jenn Fortney, Senior Development Director of the Northeast Ohio Chapter of the American Heart Association. “But, the community, through the American Heart Association, is fighting back. This year, locally, the American Heart Association will provide nutrition education to elementary Wooster City School students, continue to provide blood pressure monitors and best practices for community loaner programs, and equip the Wayne YMCA and local schools with CPR training materials and curriculum for student training to meet state requirements. All of this is possible because of donations like those through the Life is Why campaign.”
In addition to contributing to save lives through Buehler’s, donations can also be made directly to the American Heart Association at www.heart.org/wayneheartwalk . To learn more about the Life Is Why™ campaign and other participating companies, please visit www.heart.org/lifeiswhy.

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About Buehler’s
Buehler’s Fresh Foods was founded in 1929 by E.L. Buehler and his wife, Helen. In 2017, Buehler’s went through a management buyout and formed an ESOP. Buehler’s operates 14 supermarkets, 8 liquor agencies, outside catering, coffee shops, and a Food Truck named Ferris. Buehler’s is proud to be recently Certified™ by Great Place to Work.About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.

For Media Inquiries:
Jennifer McNeil, American Heart Association Communications Director
330.219.0311 jennifer.mcneil@heart.org

Karen Potter
Executive Director
A Whole Community, Inc.
PO Box 1978
Wooster, OH 44691
A Whole Community, Inc. Phone: 330-749-3715
Email: Karen948@gmail.com

Jennifer Hudson
Director of Marketing
Buehler’s Fresh Foods
1401 Old Mansfield Road
Wooster, OH 44691
Phone: 330-804-1263
Email: jhudson2@buehlers.com

NEWS RELEASE

Buehler’s Fresh Foods hosts “Drive-Thru Soup Fundraiser” to benefit A Whole Community, Inc.
Thursday, September 29, 2022 from 3:30-6:30 PM in the Buehler’s Milltown store parking lot

Wooster, OH – September 20, 2022 – Buehler’s “Drive-Thru Soup Fundraiser” on Thursday, September 29, 2022 from 3:30-6:30 PM will offer a Soup Dinner (16 oz. soup, 2 dinner rolls, and 1 cider & spice cake donut) for $12.00. Optional pottery bowls donated by Jack Rogers will also be available for an additional $12.00. The proceeds from the event will assist A Whole Community, Inc. (AWC) with its Community Food Project. AWC gathers fresh produce from local farms and delivers to local food pantries, free meal sites, and low-income neighborhoods. This is AWC’s sixth year in providing low-income individuals with access to nutritious, farm-fresh produce, which improves food security and their overall health.
A Whole Community, Inc. (AWC) is a 501(c)(3) public non-profit organization that helps individuals, families, and communities transition to wholeness. This is AWC’s sixth year operating a Community Food Project, which has four goals: 1) Reduce food waste, 2) Increase farm-fresh produce offered to needy individuals at food pantries, community meal sites, and low-income neighborhoods, 3) Increase nutrition, and 4) Assist local farmers with sustainability.
Over the past five years, AWC has provided 367,225 pounds of farm-fresh produce to those in need through food pantries, meal sites, senior communities, recovery housing, and low-income neighborhoods.
In 2021, there were 44 farms that provided 2,438 boxes of fresh, local produce, that weighed 52,266 pounds. AWC began offering farmers a choice to donate their produce for a tax-deductible receipt or to have AWC pay a portion of the produce cost to assist with farmer sustainability. AWC coordinated 33 community volunteers and summer youth workers who sort, organize, track and deliver the fresh produce. This produce was provided to 44 food pantries, meal sites, senior communities, recovery housing, and low-income neighborhoods, serving over 4,000 individuals monthly for four months (Mid-June – Mid-October). AWC also provided recipes and nutrition education to encourage healthy ways to prepare the fresh produce.

For more information or to give online to A Whole Community, Inc., visit www.AWCinc.org or like A Whole Community, Inc. on Facebook.
“I am very excited about the 2022 Empty Bowls Drive Thru Soup Fundraiser. I am grateful to Buehlers Fresh Foods for once again hosting the event and providing the food. I am also thankful for Jack Rogers for continuing to donate pottery bowls that are available for purchase at the event. All proceeds will go to support A Whole Community, Inc. as we deliver farm-fresh produce to those in need. We look forward to community members coming to this event, where they can stay in their car and drive through to purchase a delicious Buehler’s soup dinner and optional pottery bowl, while ultimately helping to feed others.” shared Karen Potter, Executive Director for A Whole Community, Inc. For more information, visit AWC’s website: www.AWCinc.org
Jennifer Hudson, Marketing Director at Buehler’s said, “as a local, employee owned grocery store, we are committed to addressing the hunger needs in our local communities. We are able to fulfill that mission while doing what we’re best at, by partnering with A Whole Community, Inc. and providing fresh, homemade food for the drive thru soup fundraiser.”
The event flyer is attached.
About Buehler’s
Buehler’s Fresh Foods grocery store was founded in 1929 by E.L. Buehler and his wife, Helen. The family moved the business in 1932 to Wooster, and, after four generations, grew to 14 stores serving the northeast Ohio market. In 2017, Buehler’s became an ESOP (employee stock ownership program) with the belief that selling to their own employees was the best way to assure the continuation of the innovative and creative spirit which made the chain a benchmark for independent grocers.
Buehler’s Fresh Foods operates fourteen Buehler’s Fresh Foods supermarkets located in Wooster (2), Orrville, Wadsworth, Medina (2), Ashland, New Philadelphia, Dover, Jackson Township (Canton), Coshocton, Portage Lakes (Green), Galion and Massillon, Ohio.
Buehler’s Fresh Foods is committed to environmentally responsible behavior, local sourcing of product and supporting the communities in which we operate. For more information visit www.buehlers.com.

Pictured, left to right:Cheryl Kerr – Employee Experience Specialist/Community Relations, Buehler’s Medina River Styx location, Paul Stefaniuk – Buehler’s VP of Store Operations, Bonnie Wheeler-McElroy – Employee Experience Specialist/Community Relations, Buehler’s Jackson Township location, Matthew Taylor – Point of Sale, Buehler’s Jackson Township location, Jon Yentz – Store Manager, Buehler’s Jackson Township location, Leslie Genovese – Regional Director, Stark County Campus, Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, Dave Cleckner – Buehler’s Director of Operations

BUEHLER’S FRESH FOODS THANKS CUSTOMERS FOR PARTICIPATION IN HARVEST FOR HUNGER CAMPAIGN
Wooster, OH – June 3, 2022
“Buehler’s Fresh Foods would like to thank all of our customers and team members who went above and beyond this year in raising money for our community food banks during the Harvest for Hunger campaign. I’m proud to say that this year’s results were one of our best, since we started the campaign 15 years ago. We thank the Akron Canton Foodbank and their outstanding team who work hard to battle food insecurity every day.” Paul Stefaniuk, Vice President of Operations at Buehler’s Fresh Foods.
Buehler’s Fresh Foods raised $161,722.55, which translates into 648,000 meals, through our register campaign and fun employee contests. Everyone involved in this campaign recognizes the continued struggle for folks to put food on their tables due to rising food and fuel prices and how clearly vital the foodbank is to a multitude of families.
The entire Buehler’s team passionately worked together to make this campaign a success for the Foodbanks and all who benefit from their mission.
Cheryl Kerr, Buehler’s Community Relations & Employee Experience Specialist, said, “The store teams did an excellent job with register collections, theme days, raffles, $5 and $10 grocery bags and miscellaneous fundraising. A big thank you goes out to all our customers and employees for their donations and support during this year’s campaign.”
A few facts about the Foodbank:
The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank distributes food and other essential items through its network of more than 500 food pantries, hot meal sites, shelters, children and senior programs and other hunger-relief programs in Carroll, Holmes, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Tuscarawas and Wayne counties. Food insecurity affects 1 in 6 individuals and 1 in 4 children.
Buehler’s Fresh Foods has proudly supported the Akron-Canton Foodbank as a Harvest for Hunger participant for the past sixteen years. We want to do our part to end hunger in each of the communities we serve. Our partnership with the Akron-Canton Foodbank aligns with our corporate values and goals, hence our continued relationship. We are an organization committed to putting people first and this campaign is all about taking care of people in need in our communities.
About Buehler’s Fresh Foods:
Buehler’s Fresh Foods grocery store was founded in 1929 by E.L. Buehler and his wife, Helen. The family moved the business in 1932 to Wooster, and, after four generations, grew to 14 stores serving the northeast Ohio market. In 2017, Buehler’s became an ESOP (employee stock ownership program) with the belief that selling to their own employees was the best way to assure the continuation of the innovative and creative spirit which made the chain a benchmark for independent grocers.

Buehler’s Fresh Foods operates fourteen Buehler’s Fresh Foods supermarkets located in Wooster (2), Orrville, Wadsworth, Medina (2), Ashland, New Philadelphia, Dover, Jackson Township (Canton), Coshocton, Portage Lakes (Green), Galion and Massillon, Ohio.
Buehler’s Fresh Foods is committed to environmentally responsible behavior, local sourcing of product and supporting the communities in which we operate. For more information visit www.buehlers.com.